Sizzlin’ Sam Ehlinger earns accolades
NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Sam Ehlinger is simply sizzling.
The Texas Longhorn sophomore quarterback Sunday was named Walter Camp Award Offensive Player of the Week.
Ehlinger passed for 314 yards and five total touchdowns in UT's 48-45 victory over then-No. 7 Oklahoma in the AT&T Red River Showdown.
The Longhorns rose to No. 9 in the Ap Top 25 rankings released Sunday as well.
The former Westlake QB was 24-of-35 for 314 yards and two touchdowns through the air, while rushing for 72 yards and three scores on the ground.
Ehlinger’s five touchdowns were the most for a Longhorn quarterback in the Red River Showdown and a new career high. His three rushing scores were a career high and the most for a Longhorn since the 2016 season.
Furthermore, the 386 total yards were the second-most by a Horns quarterback in the Red River Rivalry, behind just his 388 total yards a season ago. It was just the fourth 300-yard passing effort by a Longhorn QB ever against Oklahoma.
The Texas quarterback has now passed for 200 yards in every single one of his 12 career starts, while Saturday's effort against the Sooners was his second career 300-yard performance. He has passed for 3,414 career yards and 22 touchdowns through the air, both 12th-most in school history for a career.
Ehlinger has now attempted a school-record 163 consecutive passes without throwing an interception, besting Major Applewhite's previous school record of 156 set in 1999. Ehlinger and the Longhorns have played turnover free football in each of the last three games.
He is the eighth Longhorn since 2004, and the first since Malik Jefferson in 2015, to earn weekly honors. Vosean Joseph from Florida was the Defensive Player of the Week.
Riding a five-game winning streak, Ehlinger and the Longhorns return to DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium to host Baylor on Saturday. Kickoff is set for 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
