Sam Ehlinger Interview from Oregon: Ultimate Competitor (By Daniel Seahorn)

Sam Ehlinger is a competitor. I would go as far as to call him the ultimate competitor, which is a title I like to reserve for guys like Kobe Bryant. Those types of guys hate losing with every ounce of their being and are going to give it all they have until the clock hits triple zeroes.

 

 

 

I say all this to say I was as excited as anyone when Ehlinger was named to the Elite 11, to see him compete among the best of the best at the premier event of the offseason. The annual competition held in Oregon gives spectators a view of how Ehlinger measures up with the best players in the nation.

 

 

 

I was able to catch up with Sam following the first day of the Elite 11 preparations to get his thoughts on being in Oregon, recruiting, and Texas football.

 

 

 

HornSports: You didn’t get invited to The Opening in Houston, but you got selected eventually after making the rounds to another regional. What was it like to finally get selected?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: It was great. The whole process is good stuff, and to be able to be around great players and go through the process with great coaches. In Houston I didn’t do as well as I liked, but I went out to New Jersey and LA, and now I got the opportunity to come out here and I’m just glad to be here and having a great time so far.

 

 

 

HornSports: How does it feel to get that first practice under your belt?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Really good. Was able to knock off the rust and the jet lag a little bit. We’ve been in offseason so we haven’t fully been working on routes and stuff. Been able to get the arm loose and get the blood pumping.

 

 

 

HornSports: How competitive do you expect it to be going into tonight and tomorrow? How much of your competitive juices are going to be flowing?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Everyone out here is competitive, if they weren’t they wouldn’t be out there. I think everyone just wants to have fun, we’re all good friends and everyone is getting to know each other. I think it will be very competitive, but will also be a lot of fun.

 

 

 

HornSports: You have a great relationship with Chris Robison (Oklahoma commit). What has it been like out there between you two?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: We mess with each other and talk crap to each other about the rivalry, but at the end of day it is all fun and games and we are out here to compete and make each other better, so I look forward to competing against him and beating him in the future.

 

 

 

HornSports: Overall what is it about him and his game?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: He’s very fluid. They said in the Elite 11 documentary, but it is very true. He is like an artist, it’s all artistic to him and he flows very well and everything looks really good.

 

 

 

HornSports: You have a few wide receivers out here that you might want to join you in Austin (Omar Manning,

 

Tyrell Shavers etc.). You going to have any chance to talk to those guys a little bit and try to influence them being the leader of this class?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Yeah of course. I’ve already reached out to them and said what’s up. I look forward to talking to them more in the future, but right now everyone is trying to get to know each other and have fun and that’s what it is all about.

 

 

 

HornSports: What other guys are you planning to recruit to Texas while you are here?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Well Baron Browning is on my team, so that will be a great pickup. Anthony Hines is another big one. I have to get on my Ohio State boy JK Dobbins; I know he will be out here somewhere. All of the top guys in Texas that everyone thinks about and talks about. Mostly those guys and just to get to know them better. I only know them thru social media and maybe meeting them at a regional, but I want to get to know them and express that we need them and want them.

 

 

 

HornSports: A couple years ago you weren’t as highly rated as some of the other quarterbacks in the state. What is it like in the last two years to go from being underrated to being the main guy?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Hard work pays off is all I can say. Everyone gets slept on at some time in their life and I hope I continue to get slept on because it gives me more motivation and I look forward to proving them wrong. To be here and to be able to be at this great event is awesome.

 

 

 

Question: How often do you stay in contact with the Texas coaches?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Every day. I talk to Coach Gilbert probably every day either thru text or on the phone. The defensive coaches like Coach Bedford and all of those guys. Coach Traylor and Coach Strong are really in contact.

 

 

 

HornSports: Describe your relationship with Coach Gilbert and what draws you to him.

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Right now it isn’t really a coaching relationship and it is more of a relationship you would have with one of your good friends. I’m not nervous around him to say something wrong, and he has started the bond that we are going to be really good friends and our relationship is going to be more than about football.

 

 

 

HornSports: Do you still have schools trying to recruit you or do they know the deal about you going to Texas at this point?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: I still get a couple of schools. Florida State is probably recruiting me the hardest. Most schools that come by to see Levi (Jones) and Stephan (Zabie) and the other great guys at my school. They stop by and try to drop a little comment every once in a while.

 

 

 

HornSports: Do you say thanks, but no thanks? Laugh it off? How do you handle it?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Of course I’m respectful about it. It’s a blessing to have the ability to have colleges like Florida State and other schools wanting me. It’s something I’ve look forward to since I was a kid. I’m very respectful of it and I’m not going to be ignorant about it or be rude about it.

 

 

 

HornSports: Most people had you pegged for Texas once they offered. What drew you to Texas and what made that the early choice for you?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: Growing up and learning the tradition. Going to baseball games, basketball games, football games. Wearing burnt orange to sleep and wearing it when I wake up all day long. It is ingrained in my memory and ingrained in my mind and growing up in Austin every Saturday was either going to a game or watching it on TV. Watching national championships, going to a national championship, and the list just keeps going on and on.

 

 

 

HornSports: Do you think the program is trending in the right direction and do you think your class can help put it over the top?

 

 

 

Ehlinger: No doubt. It’s not hard to tell that the last two classes that finished in the top 10 were classes that everyone wants to have. Especially with the seasons that weren’t as good as a program like the University of Texas would like to have and to still be able to pull in those classes. It’s just proof that Texas is meant to be good and that’s where it is going to end up in the end. Coach Strong is putting us in a great position with the recruiting classes, all the great guys and we’ve been blessed with the Baylor guys. It’s all uphill from here.