Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers recently reflected on his brief time at Ohio State as he prepares to face several former Buckeye teammates in the upcoming Cotton Bowl Classic. Ewers, who initially committed to Texas before flipping to Ohio State in November 2020, reclassified from the 2022 recruiting class to 2021 and joined the Buckeyes in August 2021. He saw limited action during his time in Columbus, taking a few snaps against Michigan State, before transferring back to Texas. Now, as he prepares for a critical game, Ewers expressed excitement about reconnecting with his former teammates.
“I felt like I belonged there.”#Texas QB Quinn Ewers says he built very special relationships with the guys during his short time at Ohio State. Him and Jack Sawyer were roommates and he’s very excited to see his former teammates again. #Buckeyes pic.twitter.com/yZQjnvykw2
— Nicole Shearin (@NicoleShearintv) January 6, 2025
Speaking to reporters, Ewers described the significance of reuniting with those he played alongside. “It’s going to be awesome just to see all those guys again. Even though I was only there for a semester, I built some pretty strong relationships,” he said. He recalled the warm reception he received when joining Ohio State as a mid-year enrollee during fall camp, a rare and challenging circumstance. “They took me in during a weird time. I came in the middle of fall camp, and some of the guys just welcomed me in, even if it was as simple as saying hello. It made me feel like I belonged.”
Ewers also shared a personal memory of rooming with defensive end Jack Sawyer and others during his short stay in Columbus. “Me and Jack Sawyer were roommates my freshman year, along with a couple of other guys. It’ll be great to see them again,” he said.
Ewers initially decided to reclassify and join Ohio State early due to restrictions in Texas that prevented high school athletes from earning money. He explained, “One of the main reasons was that Texas didn’t allow high school football players to be paid. My family and I had a significant financial opportunity, and we felt it was the right decision for me to forgo my senior year and enroll early at Ohio State. It allowed us to secure some financial stability.”
Quinn Ewers on why he went to Ohio State early: “One of the main things was that the Texas legislature wasn’t going to allow #txhsfb players to be paid. Me and my family had a pretty big opportunity in front of us, we felt like it was a good decision for me to forego my senior…
— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) January 6, 2025
After one semester, Ewers returned to his home state to play for Texas and has since spent three seasons under head coach Steve Sarkisian. Both Ewers and Sarkisian are now focused on leading the Longhorns to a victory in the Cotton Bowl, with the winner advancing to the national championship game.