Connect with us

Published

on

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers is declaring for the NFL draft, he announced in a video on social media.

The decision ends a career at Texas that saw him help revive the program from a 5-7 season in 2021 and lead the Longhorns to their only two College Football Playoff appearances, in the 2023 and 2024 seasons.

Ewers went 21-5 as a starter the past two years and to two CFP semifinal appearances. In his career, he led Texas to wins at Alabama and at Michigan, led it to the Big 12 title in 2023 and to consecutive College Football Playoff wins over Clemson and Arizona State this season. Those are Texas’ only College Football Playoff victories since that format began in 2014.

Ewers played in 36 total games for the Longhorns after transferring from Ohio State. He threw for 9,128 yards and 68 touchdowns in his three seasons in Austin, completing 64.9% of his passes.

Ewers’ decision doesn’t come as much of a surprise. He told ESPN’s “College GameDay” in an interview that aired before the Cotton Bowl on Friday that he did not expect to return to college football next year.

When asked about what he hoped his Texas legacy would be, Ewers said: “A great teammate that pushed his teammates to be the best that they could be, but pushed himself to be the best that he could be, so he’s able to say things like that. And, you know, one of the best to ever do it here.”

Ewers finished tied for fourth all time for wins by a Texas quarterback with 27, tying Sam Ehlinger and training only Colt McCoy (45), Vince Young (30) and Bobby Layne (28), per ESPN Research.

When asked what it’s like to be in the conversation with those Longhorns legends, Ewers told ESPN before the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic: “It’s definitely special. I mean, growing up, you know, seeing Colt McCoy play, you know, watching highlights of Vince Young, you know, obviously I was really young whenever he was playing but just hearing all the stories and, you know, the legacy that they left behind. It’s unreal to even be in the conversation with those guys.”

Ewers will be a fascinating draft prospect, as one general manager told ESPN that among his scouts there was a “wild variance” of opinions. His three years in the offensive system with Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, pure arm talent and consistent production will be positives. He’s expected to perform well in the workout and interview portions of the draft process, with time in a sophisticated offense a positive in the eyes of the NFL.

Ewers was the No. 2 overall recruit in the country, per ESPN’s rankings, and came out of high school a year early in the Class of 2021 and attended Ohio State for a semester. Part of the allure of that decision was opportunities for name, image and likeness that wouldn’t have been available if he’d stayed in Texas for his senior year of high school at Southlake Carroll High School in the Dallas area.

That trailblazing decision began a college career that played out in a fishbowl. He transferred to Texas in December, with Texas in the wake of a 5-7 season. For Sarkisian, Ewers’ decision loomed large.

“For him to come back home, I think sent a little bit of a message to everybody that we’re trying to recruit the best players, not only around the country, but in the state of Texas,” Sarkisian told ESPN before the Cotton Bowl. “And for him to come home, I think then rallied a few other guys to want to stay home. It kind of started that process of us signing a great class and we built on it from there.”

Ewers’ departure puts the program in Arch Manning‘s hands as the starter in 2025. The son of Cooper Manning, grandson of former NFL quarterback Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning passed for 939 yards and nine touchdowns and ran for four TDs this season.

Continue Reading

Sports

Former White Sox pitcher, world champ Jenks dies

Published

on

By

Former White Sox pitcher, world champ Jenks dies

Bobby Jenks, a two-time All-Star pitcher for the Chicago White Sox who was on the roster when the franchise won the 2005 World Series, died Friday in Sintra, Portugal, the team announced.

Jenks, 44, who had been diagnosed with adenocarcinoma, a form of stomach cancer, this year, spent six seasons with the White Sox from 2005 to 2010 and also played for the Boston Red Sox in 2011. The reliever finished his major league career with a 16-20 record, 3.53 ERA and 173 saves.

“We have lost an iconic member of the White Sox family today,” White Sox chairman Jerry Reinsdorf said in a statement. “None of us will ever forget that ninth inning of Game 4 in Houston, all that Bobby did for the 2005 World Series champions and for the entire Sox organization during his time in Chicago. He and his family knew cancer would be his toughest battle, and he will be missed as a husband, father, friend and teammate. He will forever hold a special place in all our hearts.”

After Jenks moved to Portugal last year, he was diagnosed with a deep vein thrombosis in his right calf. That eventually spread into blood clots in his lungs, prompting further testing. He was later diagnosed with adenocarcinoma and began undergoing radiation.

In February, as Jenks was being treated for the illness, the White Sox posted “We stand with you, Bobby” on Instagram, adding in the post that the club was “thinking of Bobby as he is being treated.”

In 2005, as the White Sox ended an 88-year drought en route to the World Series title, Jenks appeared in six postseason games. Chicago went 11-1 in the playoffs, and he earned saves in series-clinching wins in Game 3 of the ALDS at Boston, and Game 4 of the World Series against the Houston Astros.

In 2006, Jenks saved 41 games, and the following year, he posted 40 saves. He also retired 41 consecutive batters in 2007, matching a record for a reliever.

“You play for the love of the game, the joy of it,” Jenks said in his last interview with SoxTV last year. “It’s what I love to do. I [was] playing to be a world champion, and that’s what I wanted to do from the time I picked up a baseball.”

A native of Mission Hills, California, Jenks appeared in 19 games for the Red Sox and was originally drafted by the then-Anaheim Angels in the fifth round of the 2000 draft.

Jenks is survived by his wife, Eleni Tzitzivacos, their two children, Zeno and Kate, and his four children from a prior marriage, Cuma, Nolan, Rylan and Jackson.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Continue Reading

Sports

In search of infield options, Yanks add Candelario

Published

on

By

In search of infield options, Yanks add Candelario

NEW YORK — The New York Yankees, digging for options to bolster their infield, have signed third baseman Jeimer Candelario to a minor league contract and assigned him to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, the affiliate announced Saturday.

Candelario, 31, was released by the Cincinnati Reds on June 23, halfway through a three-year, $45 million contract he signed before the start of last season. The decision was made after Candelario posted a .707 OPS in 2024 and batted .113 with a .410 OPS in 22 games for the Reds before going on the injured list in April with a back injury.

The performance was poor enough for Cincinnati to cut him in a move that Reds president of baseball operations Nick Krall described as a sunk cost.

For the Yankees, signing Candelario is a low-cost flier on a player who recorded an .807 OPS just two seasons ago as they seek to find a third baseman to move Jazz Chisholm Jr. to second base, his natural position.

Candelario is the second veteran infielder the Yankees have signed to a minor league contract in the past three days; they agreed to terms with Nicky Lopez on Thursday.

Continue Reading

Sports

Dodgers’ Snell pitches to hitters, ‘looked good’

Published

on

By

Dodgers' Snell pitches to hitters, 'looked good'

LOS ANGELES — Pitchers Blake Snell and Blake Treinen are progressing toward a return for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Snell and Treinen each faced hitters Saturday, and Snell pitched two innings. Each could begin a rehab assignment after the All-Star break.

The 32-year-old Snell has pitched in two games for the Dodgers following his five-year, $182 million free agent deal after spending last season with the San Francisco Giants and three before that with the San Diego Padres. He is a two-time Cy Young Award winner.

“(Snell) looked good. He looked really good,” manager Dave Roberts said. “I don’t know what the velo was but the ball was coming out really well. He used his entire pitch mix. I thought the delivery was clean, sharp, so really positive day.”

The Dodgers’ starting rotation has been injury-prone this season but is starting to get a boost from Shohei Ohtani, the two-way superstar who is working as an opener in his return from elbow surgery.

Treinen is looking to get back to his role in the back end of the bullpen. He threw one inning Saturday.

“Blake Treinen I thought was really good as well,” Roberts said. “Both those guys should be ready at some point in time shortly after the All-Star break.”

Continue Reading

Trending