Texas Football: Understanding QB Sam Ehlinger spring Heisman hype

The confidence and outspoken nature of to-be junior Texas football quarterback Sam Ehlinger could really help him make a run for the Heisman this year.

There shouldn’t be a shred of doubt in any college football fan’s mind that the Heisman hype building around a few players for the Texas football program during spring camp was something that was to come. With how successful Texas football was to cap off the 2018 campaign, the Heisman hype was sure to follow for the likes of rising junior quarterback Sam Ehlinger and sophomore running back Keaontay Ingram.

Before we can fully dive into the Heisman hype that is building around the star signal caller for the Texas football program for the upcoming regular season, we have to understand what’s coming his way right now. From SportsDay to Bleacher Report, and a ton of media outlets in between, Ehlinger is starting to get some discussion in the thick of the Heisman conversation early on.

Ehlinger slotted himself firmly in the news cycle to end the month of March by calling out the Texas A&M Aggies for ads in the Austin-Bergstrom airport when he was on his way back from spring break. The point of that isn’t that it will impact his Heisman campaign directly at all. In fact, by the time the 2019 campaign begins, most college football fans won’t remember that happened in the first place.

Understanding that move from Ehlinger gives some insight as to how his personality could develop for his third-year on the Forty Acres. Ehlinger appears to be more of a fiery personality than someone like the former Alabama Crimson Tide transfer quarterback and projected Oklahoma Sooners starter Jalen Hurts.

Hurts seems like more of a soft-spoken quarterback, especially with how he handled the situation in the room with former teammate and Alabama starter Tua Tagovailoa. He was the backup, after taking Alabama to two national title games, and handled the situation with a lot of class. But, his personality won’t be as noticeable in all likelihood as Ehlinger for the coming season.

Moreover, Ehlinger looks to have a personality that will be closer to that of former Oklahoma quarterback Baker Mayfield in terms of how talented and outspoken he is. Ehlinger is a much more refined version of Mayfield, and it’s always a touchy subject to compare a Texas football quarterback with that of the rival north of the Red River. He’s a much better representation of his football program off-the-field than Mayfield.

Ehlinger will be a set in stone Heisman contender for the 2019 campaign, much like Mayfield was heading into 2017. The Texas Longhorns football program clearly has the brand name to contend for the Heisman Trophy honors and get the national recognition needed to stay in the running for the entire 2019 season.

It is also showing through that Ehlinger has that entertaining outspoken personality that this young locker room will need to get over all the roster turnover this off-season on both sides of the ball. Sometimes, getting all this attention and hype is not a bad thing for a personality that is as strong as Ehlinger’s.

Some of the factors Ehlinger shows in spring camp is helping this entire offense make the proper strides toward contending for a Big 12 Title and a spot in the College Football Playoff. He was mic’d up for a spring practice earlier this week and showed more of that electric personality and vocal leadership this team needs from its signal caller.

All in all, Ehlinger is one of the most fun quarterbacks to follow in the nation for the 2019 off-season. He posted the numbers last season that will give him the Heisman hype required to make a legitimate run at the honors this fall. In spring camp, he is already generating the hype and excitement to match that of a true superstar talent and Heisman contender.