BEAVERTON, Ore - It’s been nearly a full year since quarterback Sam Ehlinger committed to Texas. Ehlinger is competing at the Elite 11 finals and The Opening this week, and in talking to the Austin Westlake product after Wednesday’s practice, it’s pretty clear that Ehlinger is still thrilled with his decision to be a Longhorn.
Key quote: “Growing up, learning the tradition, going to baseball games, basketball games, football games, wearing burnt orange to sleep, wearing it all day long when I wake up – it’s just kind of ingrained in my memory, ingrained in my mind,” Ehlinger said about his decision to commit to Texas early. “Growing up in Austin, every Saturday it was either going to a game or watching it on TV somewhere, watching a national championship, going to a national championship. It goes down the list, continuing on.”
Building relationships: Ehlinger stays in close contact with the UT staff, including near daily talks with new UT offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. Those two have developed a close bond, and Ehlinger said it goes beyond just football.
“I talk to coach Gilbert probably every day, just through texting and on the phone. The defensive coaches, coach (Vance) Bedford and all those guys,” Ehlinger said. “Coach (Jeff) Traylor, coach (Charlie) Strong, all those guys stay in touch.”
In talking to Gilbert, Ehlinger said there’s a feeling of comfort and friendship that’s different than a typical coach-player relationship.
“It’s not really a coaching relationship right now. It’s a relationship you’d have with one of your good friends. That’s what he has started so far,” Ehlinger said. “It’s not like I’m nervous around him to say something wrong. It’s like he has started the bond where we’re going to be good friends and our relationship is going to be more than just football. That’s kind of the vibe I’ve gotten in the times I’ve talked to him and when I’ve been with him.”
Doing some recruiting: Quarterbacks are usually ringleaders of recruiting classes, and Ehlinger has no problem assuming that role. In fact, he plans to work a few guys this week while in Oregon. He’s been in wide receiver Omar Manning’s ear already and will give his best recruiting pitch to some other key Longhorn targets once they arrive on Thursday.
“I already reached out to them, said what’s up. I’ll look forward to talking to them more in the future,” Ehlinger said. “Right now everyone is just getting together and having fun. That’s what it’s all about.
“Baron Browning is on my team. That would be a great pick-up. Anthony Hines is another big one. I’ve got to get on my Ohio State boy, J.K. Dobbins. I know he’ll be out here somewhere. All the top guys in Texas that everyone thinks about and talks about – it will be most of those guys, just to get to know them better. I only really know them through social media and maybe getting to meet them at a regional. To get to know them and kind of express how we need them, we want them, what’s going on down there will be my main point.”
Working his way up: There was a time about 18 months ago when Ehlinger was flying a bit under the radar compared to a few other quarterback prospects in the state of Texas. While OB has always has Ehlinger ranked near the top of our Lone Star Recruiting Top 100, it took a little while longer for the national media to take notice.
He’s now a Rivals250 member, a four-star prospect and the nation’s No. 6-ranked pro-style quarterback by Rivals.com. He could climb even higher with a solid showing this week and a strong senior season, but Ehlinger said he actually likes when people overlook him.
“Everyone gets slept on at some point in their life. I hope I continue to get slept on because that gives me more motivation,” Ehlinger said. “That’s what I look forward to, proving them wrong, waking them up. That’s kind of been my motto.”
Other schools still in pursuit: Though he’s solid with his commitment, Ehlinger said there are a couple schools who continue to recruit him, with Florida State leading the charge. Ehlinger is respectful when other programs reach out, but Longhorn fans need not worry about his commitment.
“I still get a couple schools. Florida State is the hardest. They come to see Levi (Jones) and Stephan (Zabie) and all those great guys at my school. They stop by and try to drop a little comment every once in a while.
“Of course I’m respectful about it. It’s a blessing to have the ability to have colleges like Florida State and all these great schools wanting me. That’s what I looked forward to as a kid. I’m very respectful of it.”
No lack of confidence: Every quarterback at this event has talent and confidence. You don’t get to this level without those traits. Ehlinger is no different, and he dropped a nice quote when talking about fellow Lone Star State quarterback Chris Robison.
“We mess with each other. We talk crap to each other about the rivalry. At the end of the day it’s all fun and games. We’re out here to compete and make each other better,” Ehlinger said. “I look forward to competing against him and beating him in the future.”
Texas on the way up: With the recruiting classes the Longhorns have put together in the last two years, despite some on-field struggles, Ehlinger believes the Longhorns are close to being back on top of the college football world.
It’s just proof that Texas is meant to be good, and that’s where it’s going to end up,” he said. “Coach Strong is putting us in a great position with recruiting classes and all the great guys. We’ve been blessed with the Baylor guys and it’s all uphill from here.”
