NFF National Scholar-Athletes
Sam Ehlinger, QB – University of Texas
3.42 GPA – Marketing
Head Coach: Tom Herman | Athletics Director: Chris Del Conte
Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Michael Clement
The only player in school history to record multiple seasons with at least 35 total touchdowns, Sam Ehlinger continues to climb the Texas record books while cementing himself among the Longhorns' most decorated quarterbacks. The Austin native and lifelong Texas fan becomes the program's 12th NFF National Scholar-Athlete.
A student in Texas' prestigious McCombs School of Business, Ehlinger was named the 2020 Big 12 Football co-Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and he is on track to graduate in December with a degree in marketing. The two-year team captain is a three-time First Team Academic All-Big 12 selection (2018, 2019, 2020) and a six-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll.
Ehlinger earned Second Team All-Big 12 honors after leading the conference with 25 passing touchdowns in the regular season, which are tied for 10th nationally. He is also tied for fifth nationally with 202 points responsible for and fourth in the Big 12 with 2,406 passing yards. A dual threat, he has rushed for 382 yards and eight touchdowns.
Ehlinger has guided the Longhorns to a 6-3 record, having been named the Walter Camp National Offensive Player of the Week once and the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week twice. He is among three finalists for the 2020 Wuerffel Trophy for outstanding community service and the Bobby Bowden Trophy, which goes to the college football player who epitomizes a student-athlete of faith. A semifinalist for the 2020 Davey O'Brien Award, Ehlinger was also selected as a top-10 candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award. The Longhorns will finish the 2020 season against Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 29, at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN.
Ehlinger ranks second in Longhorn history behind 2009 NFF National Scholar-Athlete Colt McCoy in career passing yards (11,276), completions (913), passing touchdowns (93), total offensive yards (13,188), touchdowns responsible for (126), 200-yard plus passing games (36) and starts by a QB (42).
An Honorable Mention All-Big 12 performer in 2018, Ehlinger set the single-season school record for rushing touchdowns by a quarterback with 16 while guiding the Longhorns to a berth in the Big 12 Championship Game and a No. 9 final ranking. In 2018, he became the first player in Texas history to pass for at least 25 touchdowns and rush for at least 15 touchdowns in a single season. That year he also set a Big 12 and school record with 308 consecutive passes without an interception.
Ehlinger is only the second quarterback in Texas history to throw for at least 3,000 yards in multiple seasons and the second Longhorn passer to reach 11,000 yards in his career. He has led the Longhorns to three consecutive bowl victories, earning back-to-back Offensive MVP honors in wins over No. 11 Utah in the 2019 Alamo Bowl and No. 6 Georgia in the 2019 Sugar Bowl.
During the pandemic, Ehlinger started a GoFundMe page to raise money for COVID-19 relief, raising nearly $200,000 distributed to local Austin charities. He is heavily involved with the children's cancer organization NEGU, setting up an event to meet patients and families. Supportive of the Black Lives Matter movement on campus, Ehlinger marched with teammates to the Texas State Capitol. He has also participated in numerous YMCA, hospital and school visits and volunteered with the Special Olympics among numerous other service activities.
Ehlinger was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the 2021 NFL draft.
