Rookie quarterback Quinn Ewers is off to a noticeably good start in the first week of Miami Dolphins preseason camp. Despite being a (surprise) seventh-round pick, there were suggestions he would be prepared to hit the ground running.
PLAYED IN SIMILAR SYSTEM AT TEXAS
Looking at things from the outside, the fit for Ewers in Miami couldn’t be better. Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s offensive system is near identical to what the Dolphins run, so Ewers arrived familiar to a degree.
He also has the traits Mike McDaniel likes in a quarterback — the ability to throw with accuracy and anticipation.
“I think all of us wish he he would have gotten drafted higher,” Sarkisian said. “But at the end of the day if I could have picked a place that I think is a great fit for him, I think Miami is a great fit. You know systematically what coach McDaniel does is, if not exactly the same, very similar to what we do.”
EWERS QUIETLY PLAYED HURT LAST YEAR
Ewers started the 2024 season strong, including a big, 31-12, Week 2 win versus then-No. 10 Michigan in Ann Arbor. He threw for 246 yards and three TDs on 24-of-36 passing, doing so in what seemed effortless and without fear.
At the time, Ewers was way more of a favorite on mock draft boards than he was a projected final-round pick. ESPN’s Mel Kiper mentioned him on his First Take broadcast after the Michigan game.
“Teammates feed off of his ability to go into any environment,” Kiper said. “Right now, he’s got to be the elite QB in this draft at QB1.”
What nobody knew was that Ewers had completed the game with an injured oblique that went on to be completely torn the following game against UTSA, with highly-recruited phenom Arch Manning coming in and throwing four touchdowns, stoking the fan base again.
Ewers went on to finish out the season, not only playing with the injured stomach muscle, but he also played the final four games with a high ankle sprain. None of this was disclosed until weeks after the season was over.
Unfortunately, it hurt how many viewed his play. At times he appeared nonchalant or unwilling to pump the ball downfield when, one would imagine, the pain of a torn oblique was likely holding him back somewhat.
“He battled injuries all three years,” Sarkisian said in defense of playing Ewers over Arch Manning. “Leads us to two college football playoffs. Leads us to a Big 12 championship. Leads us to an SEC Championship Game, our first year in the conference. And that’s his ‘legacy’ here. His legacy is way bigger than just (beating out Arch Manning).”
In short, the kid’s tough, plays through pain and doesn’t make excuses.
LEADERSHIP QUALITIES
A player who orchestrated his own Pro Day, Ewers showed up in Miami for rookie camp back in May with the same mentality he’s taken everywhere.
“It’s my responsibility to lead these rookies,” Ewers said. “It’s my opportunity to go get noticed at the end of the day and I’m going to try and do that.”
McDaniel was asked about Ewers prior to today’s practice, one-week into full preseason camp and he seems to see the same attributes.
“Quinn Ewers is doing great. With Quinn it starts with — you know a quarterback’s a leader of men and you can tell he has a personality trait within him that gravitate to.”
FACED PRESSURE, EXCELLED UNDER IT
Ewers went to a Longhorns program already facing fan complaints after head coach Steve Sarkisian’s first season ended at 5-7.
The sudden presence of the biggest name in Texas prep football — which Ewers was after scoring a near unheard of perfect 10.0 scouting rating out of high school — helped the Longhorns in their efforts to recruit other big-time players. He helped lead the team to an 8-5 record in that redshirt freshman season, before following that with 12-2 and 13-3 campaigns.
“Quinn Ewers decided to come to Texas when we were a 5-7 football team. We owe a ton to Quinn,” Sarkisian said. “Because if Quinn Ewers doesn’t come, I don’t know if the next five guys are coming. And if those next five guys don’t come, I don’t know if the next 10 guys are coming.”
And Ewers never seemed fazed by all eyes being on him. As a sophomore, he was destroying Alabama before getting hurt on an illegal hit. He came back and beat the Tide in Tuscaloosa a year later, 34-24 in front of 100,077 fans. He won 10 games in his final two years against Top 25 teams, often doing so on the road.
SHOWED COMPOSURE PLAYING FROM BEHIND
One of Ewers’ biggest moments from in 2024 was a fourth-and-13 against Arizona State with Texas down seven and time winding down in the college football quarterfinals. Despite a heavy blitz coming up the middle, he calmly connected for a 28-yard touchdown, getting his team into overtime and ultimately the CFP semifinals.
In fact, Ewers has always been money when the pressure is on. In his last two seasons, he went 136-of-197 (69.0) for 1,571 yards, 14 TDs and four interceptions when playing from behind.
EARLY RETURNS SUGGEST — GOOD PICKUP
In the end, all of these attributes helped get Quinn Ewers off to a good start in Miami. Soon the pads will come on and we’ll know even more about his future in Miami and what type of role he might be able to play.
If nothing else, at this point it looks like the Dolphins were right to grab Ewers late when he was available and in time, he’ll show more of how his skills translate in this offense and whether future designs of him being the Dolphins backup are reasonable.
In one week, he looks better than the two veteran pros he replaced from this time a year ago.
Aqua & Coral Report 