Texas Football senior quarterback Sam Ehlinger was named a finalist for the Bobby Bowden Trophy. The Bowden Trophy recognizes the college football player who epitomizes a student-athlete of faith. The honoree must conduct himself as an exemplary model in the classroom, on the field, on the campus and in the community. Ehlinger is seeking to join 2009 recipient Colt McCoy as Longhorns to win the Bowden Trophy.
Ehlinger, an Austin native, has completed 184-of-306 passes (60.1%) for 2,406 yards and 25 touchdowns to five interceptions this season. He has also rushed for 382 yards and eight touchdowns to tally 2,788 yards of total offense and 33 total touchdowns. The senior's 202 points responsible for are the third-most in the country this season, and he also ranks third in points responsible for per game (22.4) and eighth in passing touchdowns (25). Among Big 12 competitors this season, Ehlinger leads the conference in passing touchdowns (25), points responsible for (202), points responsible for per game (22.4) and total offense (309.8).
Ehlinger's 25 passing touchdowns are tied with his own 2019 tally for the seventh-most in school history. He also holds the No. 2 (32 TDs in 2018) mark on UT record. Ehlinger is only the fifth Big 12 quarterback over the last 20 years to throw at least 25 touchdowns in three consecutive seasons, and is the only Longhorn ever to achieve that feat. He has not thrown an interception in 123-straight attempts, dating back to the fourth quarter of an Oct. 24 win over Baylor in Austin. That ranks as the seventh-longest streak in school history, and the third-best of his career. Last time out, Ehlinger threw two touchdowns against Kansas State to bring his total to 93 for his career – tied with Texas Tech's Patrick Mahomes (2014-16) for the seventh-most in conference history.
Off the field, Ehlinger is extremely active in community service. Among many other efforts, he raised almost $200,000 for charities related to COVID-19 relief through online fundraising. He also contributed his time passing out meals and school materials at the Austin Boys & Girls Club. In 2020, he has already been named a National Scholar-Athlete and William V. Campbell Trophy finalist by the National Football Foundation, a finalist for the Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year Award, a semifinalist for the Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award, a top-10 candidate for the Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award, the Co-Big 12 Football Scholar-Athlete of the Year, and to the Allstate AFCA Good Works Team.
In the classroom, Ehlinger holds a 3.42 grade point average and is a marketing major in the prestigious McCombs School of Business. He is a three-time Academic All-Big 12 First Team honoree and a six-time member of the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll. Ehlinger earned his degree from The University of Texas this fall.
The winner of the Bobby Bowden Trophy will be announced, and formally presented the award, on January 15, 2021. For more information, visit TheBobbyBowdenAward.org.
