Ehlinger’s job interview to begin
Texas quarterback works to show scouts he can succeed at NFL level
Sam Ehlinger took the snap, scanned the field and delivered a series of tight spirals while displaying his accuracy and poise during workouts for the Senior Bowl.
This has been a pivotal week for the University of Texas quarterback at the all-star game in Mobile, Ala.
This represents a prime opportunity for the fouryear starter and team captain to impress NFL scouts with several remarking about his character, intelligence, mechanics and athleticism.
Ehlinger has met with all 32 teams and is working to build a fast chemistry with unfamiliar wide receivers heading into Saturday’s game.
“It’s going well,” Ehlinger said in a telephone interview. “I feel good. I’m trying to soak up as much information as possible and learn as much as possible from an NFL coaching staff and grow as a player. The game is so much different at the professional level.
“I’m working a lot more under center, and that’s new for me. I only took two under-center snaps in college. Every single day, I’ve gotten better. It’s been great so far.”
Working on the practice field and attending meetings during the day, Ehlinger’s evenings have been filled with interviews with NFL teams. Scouts and coaches want to know as much about him as possible following a successful career with the Longhorns on and off the field as a threetime academic All-Big 12 selection and finance major.
“Sam is a good guy who I think will have a good NFL career because he’s a hard worker, he’s a good athlete and he’s smart,” an NFL scout said. “I like him. I want to see him continue to work on his arm strength and keep getting stronger overall. He’s a guy who I believe will get drafted and stick on a roster.”
Ehlinger finished his career ranked second in school history to Colt McCoy in career completions, passing yards, total offense, touchdown passes and total TDs responsible for.
The second-team All-Big 12 Conference selection passed for 11,436 yards, 94 touchdowns and 27 interceptions and rushed for 1,907 yards and 33 touchdowns. As a senior, he passed for 2,566 yards, 26 touchdowns and five interceptions
and ran for eight scores.
“I think I operated offenses well and I’m a guy people trust on the field,” Ehlinger said. “I’m a leader. I try to be a leader and put my team in position to win every single game and execute at a very high level.
“Everything about my game, I want to improve. Definitely, I want to keep getting better at anticipation down the field and throwing guys open. That’s
a big part of playing in the NFL: throwing to spots.”
Ehlinger (6-foot-3, 225 pounds) set the Big 12 Conference record with 308 consecutive passing attempts without an interception in 2018 and finished with 3,292 yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. He also set the singleseason school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 16 that season.
At Texas, Ehlinger benefited from the presence of All-Big 12 left offensive tackle and former Atascosita standout Sam Cosmi, one of the top offensive tackle draft prospects.
“It was incredible,” Ehlinger said. “I was spoiled to have Sammy protecting my back side for so long.”
This week is like a highprofile NFL job fair for Ehlinger and other incoming rookies.
“It’s been really good, and it’s like an interview,” he said. “It’s a good process. It’s been pretty straightforward.”
Ehlinger is intent on proving himself and showing what he can do once again after breaking every passing record at Austin Westlake High School, the alma mater of Drew Brees and Nick Foles.
“I want to show them that I’ll be a great quarterback in the NFL and that I’ll always be a team-first guy,” Ehlinger said. “I’m always going to try to make everybody around me better and strive for the best. I’m evenkeel, that’s my mentality right now.”