Quinn Ewers is having the best year of his career so far and he attributes faith to a lot of his success. However, his profound answer about the role that the Lord and Jesus Christ plays in his life came with a dash of irony.
Ewers, in his second year at Texas, is fully healthy after dealing with a lingering AC joint last season. He spent much of the offseason shedding some weight and getting in shape. Arch Manning and Maalik Murphy were behind him during spring ball and fall camp to push him into becoming the player he was expected to be as the No. 1 overall prospect in the college football recruiting Class of 2021.
It all paid off.
Through the first four games of the season, all wins, Ewers has completed 64.3% of his passes for just over 1,000 yards (9.2 yards per attempt) and nine touchdowns without an interception. The redshirt sophomore signal-caller is a legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate, if not the front-runner.
There is still a lot of season left, but Ewers is on a role. The work that he put in during the offseason is paying off. As is his focus on the controllables.
Ewers seems to be playing more loose and having more fun. That is a big component to his progression.
When asked what is allowing him to enjoy the game more this year, Ewers gave a really great answer about his faith. God has helped him to realize that football is not what defines him as a human being.
[That] allows me to play more freely. I think that has really been the biggest thing for me, is just listening to Him more and not just focusing on my own ways. And knowing that He has a plan for me, and to pursue His truth and to continue to seek His truth […]
There’s only one way to freedom and that’s through Jesus Christ. So, find Jesus and everything else will be free.
— Quinn Ewers at a press conference on Monday
Ewers’ answer was heartfelt, honest and open. It is exactly the type of answer that reporters seek when they ask questions of that nature.
However, the timing was rather ironic.
Quinn Ewers praised Christianity on the highest Jewish holiday.
Tyler Feldman of KVUE asked the question. He is Jewish. There were two other reporters of Jewish faith in the room.
Ewers spoke to the role of Jesus Christ. Jews do not believe that Jesus is the Lord Christ, God Incarnate, the very Son of God the Father.
To add another element of irony, Ewers’ testimonial came on Yom Kippur, the holiest day in Judaism. The holiday is centered on atonement and repentance, and observers fast throughout the entire day.
What Ewers said was amazing. His faith should not be diminished, and his emphasis on Jesus Christ was a special moment in the life of a young quarterback.
At the same time, there is nothing wrong with someone like Feldman — who was thrilled to hear Ewers open up in response to his question — pointing out the irony. There is some humor in Ewers saying what he said on the most holy day in the Jewish faith in front of a trio of Jewish reporters.