Former Heisman winner Johnny Manziel puts his faith in Texas star Quinn Ewers, snubbing Will Howard

Johnny Manziel liked what he saw from Quinn Ewers late in Texas' Peach Bowl win against Cam Skattebo and Arizona State. The Longhorns will face Ohio State in Friday's College Football Playoff semifinal in the Cotton Bowl.

Out of the four quarterbacks remaining — Ohio State's Will Howard, Penn State's Drew Allar, Notre Dame's Riley Leonard, and Ewers — the Texas A&M icon and former Heisman Trophy winner named who he'd lean on in a do-or-die overtime situation.

"I think I'd rather take Quinn with the way he played and some of those clutch moments against Arizona State," Manziel told the Action Network on Wednesday. "The guy has been to back-to-back college football playoffs that they've had. He's been in big games. He's been in big moments."

Trailing by a touchdown in the first overtime of the College Football Playoff quarterfinal, the Longhorns' offense was put in a precarious situation. An off-target Quinn Ewers pass was followed by Quintrevion Wisner being stood up at the line of scrimmage. Ewers gained two yards on a throw to DeAndre Moore Jr., but Kelvin Banks Jr.'s false start made it 4th-and-8.

Ewers kept Texas alive by hitting Matthew Golden for a 28-yard score. Then, on the first snap of the second extra period, Ewers linked up with Gunnar Helm for a 25-yard touchdown which wound up being the game-winner.

Another instance in which Quinn Ewers showed his ability was the Longhorns' march down the field against Michael Penix Jr. and Washington in the Sugar Bowl semifinal a season ago. But the Longhorns came up just short of being the team to face eventual champion Michigan in the national title game.

"They're really one or two plays away at the end of that game from maybe winning that, getting to the national title," Manziel said. "I would trust Quinn the most here with the guys who are remaining."

Why Quinn Ewers might stand out among the other QBs

Johnny Football isn't the only one to have his doubts about the other three signal-callers, namely Notre Dame's Leonard. Booger McFarland recently likened Leonard to a 'poor man's Greg McElroy.' Urban Meyer puts his trust in the playmakers in Ohio State's attack rather than Howard.

Allar hasn't been on this big of a stage yet, and the jury is still out on Penn State coach James Franklin's ability to win when it matters most.

As it pertains to the pros, some aren't sure that Quinn Ewers is a first-round draft pick. Some don't even think he should be taken in the second round. Some even believe backup Arch Manning should be the one starting for Texas.

Against a motivated Buckeyes defense, Ewers will have a chance — maybe his best yet — to show why those detractors are wrong.