Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger has announced his intent to enter the 2021 NFL Draft. The four-year starter accounted for 94 passing touchdowns and 33 rushing touchdowns in his four-year career. Only 16 FBS players have accounted for more than Ehlinger’s 127 career total touchdowns. Additionally, Ehlinger is finishing his career with a perfect 4-0 Bowl record.
Sam Ehlinger Declares for NFL Draft
Austin Native
Ehlinger was born to be a Texas Longhorns quarterback. The Austin native and childhood Texas fan attended nearby Westlake High School, where he graduated as the school’s all-time leader in passing yards and touchdowns. MaxPreps also recognized Ehlinger as the National Junior of the Year. Ehlinger was a consensus four-star prospect amongst all recruiting platforms.
Collegiate Career
Ehlinger would arrive on campus as an early enrollee as the fourth-ranked dual-threat quarterback and nineteenth overall prospect in Texas. Then-head coach Tom Herman lauded Ehlinger for his leadership qualities from his first days on campus. Ehlinger would ultimately split playing time his Freshmen year with quarterback Shane Buechele who would eventually transfer to SMU. Ehlinger accounted for 13 touchdowns in nine games that season and led Texas to a bowl victory over Missouri in that season’s Texas Bowl.
Ultimately, Ehlinger will go down as one of the top three quarterbacks in school history. Finishing his career ranked second in career passing yards, total yards, passing touchdowns, total touchdowns, starts, attempts, and completions, it is clear Ehlinger left his mark on the football program. The best win of his career is widely believed to be the 2018 Red River Rivalry. The Longhorns would beat the Oklahoma Sooners 48-45, as Ehlinger accounted for five total touchdowns that day. This was Ehlinger’s only time defeating the Sooners.
The four-year starter decided to waive his last year of free eligibility and move on from Texas. His last game as a Longhorn was the 2020 Valero Alamo Bowl. He threw one touchdown before suffering a game-ending shoulder injury. Ehlinger will finish his career with 11,436 passing yards and 1,903 rushing yards.
What’s Next?
Preparation for the NFL Draft will be what lies ahead for Ehlinger. As things currently stand, ESPN’s Mel Kiper Jr. has him ranked as the 10th best quarterback in the draft. This means a favorable combine and Pro Day are key to boosting Ehlinger’s draft stock. Additionally, Ehlinger has a spot on the virtual Senior Bowl rosters.
