Texas will go as far as Ehlinger can take it

By Steve Habel, Senior Contributing Writer

AUSTIN, Texas — Texas is humming because the man in control of the Longhorns’ offense — the beat-you-to-the-punch quarterback Sam Ehlinger — is brimming with confidence born of success, preparation, grit and guile.

If you have any notion the Longhorns are anything but a reflection of Ehlinger’s personality and his physical, relentless style, then, well, you haven’t been paying attention over the past five games where he’s helped elevate Texas to the No. 9 team in the country.

“Confidence is being gained every week, we’re understanding that we can continue to get better,” Ehlinger said. “The only thing stopping us is ourselves in certain situations, and we understand that. I feel like now we’re playing less uptight, per se, we’re not afraid to make mistakes.”

[s2If current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)]

Setting records, not settling

Ehlinger was 24-of-35 for 314 yards and two touchdowns through the air last Saturday in the then-19th-ranked Longhorns’ 48-45 win over Oklahoma, while rushing for 72 yards and three scores on the ground. His five touchdowns were the most for a Longhorn quarterback in the Red River Showdown and a new career high. His three rushing scores were also a career high and the most for any Texas player since the 2016 season.

Ehlinger’s 386 total yards were the second-most by a Longhorn quarterback in the Red River Showdown, behind just his own 388 total yards a season ago.

For Ehlinger, there’s an identity to the Longhorns offense that can only come about if an offense is true to itself and to all 11 men on the field every snap.

“We’re playing care-free but also controlled and smart,” Ehlinger said. “Playing offense, in football, is the most interpersonal squad in any game … If one guy messes up on offense the play’s ruined.”

Ehlinger pointed to the interpersonal nature of the offense as to how the Horns have embraced being tight-knit to function and excel.

“Understanding that as an offensive unit, that we all have to work together all 11 guys at the same time, interpersonally, being on the same page, we now understand that’s what it takes,” he said. “Understanding that we have to all be on the same page and we have to execute on the same level in order to be successful, and I think we’ve learned that.”

The sophomore quarterback has now passed for 200 yards in all 12 career starts, while Saturday’s effort was his second career 300-yard performance. He 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.

Excelling, not arriving

Asked on Monday if Ehlinger’s success was a huge part of what the Longhorns have been able to accomplish since their season-opening loss to Maryland, Texas coach Tom Herman didn’t hesitate.

“It’s not just success but confidence,” Herman said. “Our team really believes in Sam right now, and there is a psychology to that, certainly. He’s certainly not a finished product. There’s a reason we grade film. There’s a reason there were a lot of things, plays that he wishes he had back, even in a game where he scored 48 points and accounted for five touchdowns.”

“Just because you beat a team and you score 48 points doesn’t mean that you’ve arrived or that you’ve played a perfect game,” Ehlinger said, “and we’re always gonna understand that. I think that’s very important.”

On the strength of his big game, Ehlinger garnered Walter Camp Award Offensive Player of the Week honors, earned Big 12 Conference Offensive Player of the Week kudos, was one of eight honorees for the Davey O’Brien Award’s “Great 8” list, was named one of eight Manning Award Stars of the Week as well as Player of the Week mention by The Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award.

As usual, Ehlinger said Tuesday that he was focused on the goals of the team, not individual accolades.

“We’re always trying to fix something, there’s no pats on the back,” Ehlinger said. “There’s no feeling of accomplishment within the offense because you can truly never be perfect. It’s the mentality that we have, and it’s good to see that we’re progressing.”

Don’t look back

Pretty heady stuff for a quarterback who took most of the arrows from Texas faithful after uncorking a pair of fourth-quarter interceptions in the defeat at Maryland.

“I told Sam after the Maryland game that ‘you don’t need to look over your shoulder,’” Herman said. “I’ll tell you when you do, but we believe in you. You didn’t lose the Maryland game for your team. You didn’t. That was coaches, players, offense, defense, special teams, we all lost that game.

“Having the head coach believe in you allows you a little more confidence.”

And confidence is a huge piece of Ehlinger’s and the Longhorns’ success – just ask him.

[/s2If] [s2If !current_user_can(access_s2member_level2)] [article-offer] [/s2If]