Quinn Ewers opened up this week about his decision to leave college early to make the leap to the NFL. His reasoning sounded like a wake-up call to college athletes who enter the transfer portal year after year.
Ewers opted to forego his final year of eligibility to declare for the 2025 NFL Draft. Once touted as a potential top pick in the draft, the 22-year-old fell all the way to the seventh round, where he was selected 231st overall by the Miami Dolphins.
The San Antonio, Texas, native reportedly turned down a gargantuan NIL offer to go pro. Ewers was asked about the decision earlier this week. He said that he didn’t want to tarnish the legacy and relationships he had built at Texas to chase money elsewhere.
“To me, it’s not about the materialistic things of this world because it comes and goes,” Ewers told reporters. “What’s important to me is the relationships that are built along the way. And I didn’t want to disrupt or rub anybody the wrong way, being selfish and trying to go get money from another team, because I was a lifelong Longhorn.
“Growing up, I wanted to play there. Ended up being the quarterback there, living out my dreams. My 10-year-old self wouldn’t transfer away and go somewhere else. So, at the end of the day, that was the right decision for me.
“And I think that’s important for these younger kids to take into account. Stop being so focused on the materialistic things, whether it’s NIL or whatever, and start building relationships that matter that’ll last you a lifetime.”
Ewers knew the writing was on the wall for him at Texas, with fans clamoring for Arch Manning to get the starting job after two years of serving as a high-profile backup. Despite his draft stock being at an all-time low, Ewers chose the NFL over donning a different college football uniform.
After serving as the Dolphins’ third-string quarterback for most of the season, Ewers finally got the opportunity to start in Week 16 against the Cincinnati Bengals. He went 20/30 for 260 yards with 2 interceptions in a 45-21 loss.
Ewers started for the second time last Sunday and notched his first NFL win in a 20-17 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He had a 14/22 passing clip for 172 yards and a pair of touchdowns, much to the delight of benched QB Tua Tagovailoa.
