"He's a liability" - Former NFL scout rips Quinn Ewers to shreds despite Texas' win over ASU

The status of Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers has been an ongoing topic of discussion among both fans and analysts as the No. 4 Longhorns started their College Football Playoff exploits. Ewers gave a mixed performance against the No. 10 Arizona State Sun Devils in the Peach Bowl on Wednesday to leave the question of his ability to lead the Longhorns against elite opposition unanswered.

Ewers went 20-of-30 for three touchdowns and one interception, which set up the Sun Devils' game-tying drive and led to double overtime. The Longhorns eventually won 39-31 on the back of the quarterback's precise passing.

During Wednesday's segment of the "Colin Cowherd Podcast," analyst Colin Cowherd and former NFL scout John Middlekauff were widely critical of Quinn Ewers, even invoking the Arch Manning option for next season.

"Too many times on the passing game it's a jump ball. Like he (Ewers) doesn't have defined reads," Cowherd said. "Too often it's just like, 'let's get better players and throw a ball up the sideline.' Is that Ewers or Sark?"

Middlekauff broke down why he was not sold on Ewers being the quarterback to lead the Longhorns to glory.

"Yeah, to me, I've been as critical on Sark as anyone over the years. I'm gonna defend him here. I think you can look at Ewers' box score, it doesn't look that bad," Middlekauf said. "He's 20/30, 322. To me, he's a liability.

"This is a national championship roster without a national championship quarterback. How many times this year have Texas been in a position where they can really put the nail in the coffin and Quinn Ewers turns the ball over?

"Or they're down in a game like against Georgia and they're coming back and he turns the ball over? I mean, if he was an NFL player, he would be highly highly criticized. And I would imagine the Texas Reddit community and the football community, he's a pretty polarizing guy and everyone's like 'We're going to Arch Manning next year, no ifs and buts about it.'"

Quinn Ewers praised by Steve Sarkisian after Peach Bowl

Despite Arch Manning's stellar performances when Quinn Ewers was injured, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian has staunchly stuck by his quarterback. After Wednesday's Peach Bowl, he was full of praise for the polarizing quarterback during his postgame news conference.

"If I can be the model of composure and Quinn can be the model of composure and poise, that permeates throughout our team," Sarkisian said. "I thought Quinn’s ability to stand in the pocket and deliver the ball the way that he did was a real strike."

Next up for the Texas Longhorns and Quinn Ewers is a tough CFP semifinal test against embattled coach Ryan Day's rampant Ohio State Buckeyes, who crushed the No. 1 Oregon Ducks 41-21 in the Sugar Bowl.