"I felt like I belonged there": Quinn Ewers recalls Ohio State experience before Cotton Bowl matchup

Ahead of the upcoming Cotton Bowl Classic, Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers reflected on his time in Columbus, which may have lasted one semester but was filled with memories.

Ewers flipped his commitment from the Longhorns to the Ohio State Buckeyes in Nov. 2020, as he reclassified from the 2022 recruiting class to 2021. The next year, in August, he enrolled at the program and took a few snaps under center against the Michigan State Spartans before announcing his transfer to the Longhorns.

With Ewers set to meet several of his classmates from four years ago, he's excited.

"Yeah, it's going to be awesome just to get to see all those guys again. I mean, in the semester that I was there, I feel like I made some pretty good relationships. Those guys were fun to be around while I was there," Ewers told reporters ahead of Cotton Bowl.

Joining Ohio State during fall camp as a mid-year enrollee was no small feat, but Ewers remembers the warm welcome he received.

"They took me in during a weird time, for sure, as I came in the middle of fall camp," Quinn Ewers added. "Some of those guys just kind of said what's up to me — it was as simple as that — and welcomed me in. I felt like I belonged there."

Ewers also shared a personal memory of his time with defensive end Jack Sawyer, who was his roommate during that short stint.

"Me and Jack Sawyer were roommates my freshman year with a couple of other guys, so it's going to be cool to get to see those guys for sure," Quinn Ewers said.

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Quinn Ewers reveals why he didn't join Texas Longhorns out of high school early

Coming out of Southlake Carroll High School early, Quinn Ewers, after reclassifying from the 2022 to 2021 class, decided to go to Columbus, as there were restrictions in Texas for high school athletes to earn.

"One of the main things was that the Texas legislature wasn't going to allow #txhsfb players to be paid," Ewers said.

"My family and I had a pretty big opportunity in front of us. We felt like it was a good decision for me to forego my senior year and enroll early at Ohio State. I had the opportunity to put some good money in our pockets as a family."

Nonetheless, after just one year, Ewers returned to his home state and has been there for the last three seasons, learning under the tutelage of Steve Sarkisian.

Both wll eye a big game on Friday night, with a win taking them to the national championship game.