2021 NFL Draft prospects to watch: Big 12 Conference
By Kyle Edmond
Texas – Sam Ehlinger, Quarterback, Senior
Being at Texas, there is always a chance for being overhyped. In the case of Sam Ehlinger, he’ll have to prove that wrong in the 2020 season. Having been the starter at Texas the past two seasons, Ehlinger has totaled back-to-back 3,000 yard passing seasons, but that hasn’t been enough to solidify himself as an actual top quarterback prospect.
Ehlinger attempted a career-high 454 passes during the 2019 season and also completed a career-high 296 for a 65.2 completion percentage, which was also a career-high. So there is an obvious trend that Ehlinger is improving. He is being trusted more with the ball and the completion percentage shows that there is good reason for that.
Where Ehlinger now needs to focus is his interceptions. He also set a career-high in that department last season with 10. He did throw a career-high 32 touchdowns, but the turnovers still need to come down a bit to really draw high consideration. His numbers are actually just a little better than Jacob Eason’s from a season ago.
If Ehlinger wants to enter the conversation of being a top quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft class, the key will be winning. If he can actually bring Texas back to glory this season then that could be enough to propel his name into the conversation.