Texas Football: Writer predicts Ehlinger will be a Heisman finalist

Rising senior Texas football quarterback Sam Ehlinger has a shot to be a first-time Heisman finalist during his senior season in 2020.

Heading into the 2020 season, the Texas football program does have one main Heisman contender that has a realistic shot of being a finalist this fall. Rising senior star quarterback Sam Ehlinger had a tremendous junior campaign statistically, but that didn’t reflect in the overall record that Texas posted in 2019.

The 6-foot-3 and 225 pound Ehlinger registered more than 4,000 total yards last season to go along with 39 total touchdowns, and just 10 interceptions. He registered a career-best 151.8 passer efficiency rating, more than four yards per carry for the first time in his career, and 8.5 adjusted yards per passing attempt.

Theoretically, all of the that proven production that Ehlinger brings back with him this fall, coupled with more success from the Longhorns as a whole, should mean more positive national attention on him. His Heisman candidacy would be pushed by more success in the win column, and overall in the Big 12 this fall, by his team around him.

In their bold predictions for the 2020 season for the Longhorns, one writer/editor on the Horns247 staff gave her take on how Ehlinger could be a Heisman finalist this fall. Horns247 editor Taylor Estes mentioned that Ehlinger could be a Heisman finalist this fall, but just not take the honors back to the Forty Acres.

Here’s more on her prediction for Ehlinger.

"My bold prediction for the 2020 season is Sam Ehlinger is a finalist for the Heisman Trophy. I would imagine some people might not consider this a ‘bold’ prediction considering two of the five Power Five conferences are not currently scheduled to play football this fall. However, even without Justin Fields, who was previously one of the early Heisman favorites, Ehlinger was still listed with the fifth-best Heisman odds behind the likes of Trevor Lawrence, Spencer Rattler, D’Eriq King and Myles Brennan. Considering what Ehlinger has accomplished in his career, him being fifth seems quite ludicrous to me at this point of the year, and I think he will surprise the doubters this season."

Ehlinger will have some stiff competition coming his way in the Heisman race this fall, if he and his team are able to meet expectations during his senior season. Clemson’s Trevor Lawrence, Miami’s D’Eriq King, and Oklahoma’s Spencer Rattler, are just three names to watch that will be competing with him for the award this year.

Texas will open up their 2020 season on Sep. 12 at home against the UTEP Miners out of the Conference-USA. The game will kick off under the lights at DKR at 7 p.m. CT. Then, the Longhorns will get their first real shot to make some national noise in the Big 12 opener on the road on Sep. 26 against the Texas Tech Red Raiders.

Ehlinger and the Longhorns finished up the 2019 season with a record of 8-5 (5-4 Big 12) after beating the Utah Utes in the Alamo Bowl. They’ll have vast expectations as a preseason top 15 team once again this fall.