Beyond blessed to be in this position! #AO1pic.twitter.com/87FlGURF4H, — Sam Ehlinger (@sehlinger3) August 29, 2019. Sam will take the field on Saturday for the first 2019 football season game on against Louisiana Tech. The moment Chambers noticed Ehlinger was not just physically but mentally tough was when Ehlinger’s father passed away. Sam Ehlinger is living a dream. — Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney’s word for the year: ‘Purpose’ His father died during a triathlon in 2013. — MAGAZINE: 5 College Quarterbacks to Watch in 2019 Ross Ehlinger, Sam's father, died on March 3, 2013, during the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco. The Longhorns won 10 games for the first time in nine seasons and finished ranked in the top 25 for the first time since 2012, as Ehlinger threw for 3,292 yards, 25 touchdowns and five interceptions. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. Houston Forecast: Summery for now, with a cold front in sight! Whether it's not responding when seemingly many haters are publicly trashing him, or taking a selfless approach in his success and recognizing those around him for boosting his play, Ehlinger always manages to stay above the fray, far more than most college students would if they were in his shoes. During the … Sam Ehlinger Texas: 25: 16: 41: Cole McDonald: Hawaii: 36: 4: 40: Will Grier: West Virginia: 37: 3: 40: Jordan Love: Utah State: 32: 7: 39: At the start of spring practice in 2018, the starting quarterback role for the Texas Longhorns remained unclear. Playing for the Longhorns is also a way to honor his father, who died at the age 46, when Sam was in eighth grade. The football player expressed that he had to step up and be there for his family more than ever when his father passed. "There is almost an unspoken language moment for us when we all know we are thinking of Ross," Jen said. He suffered a reported heart attack during the swim portion at 46 years old. “You, Lord, are my lamp; the Lord turns my darkness into light.” 2 Samuel 22:29 #AO1, A post shared by Sam Ehlinger (@sehlinger) on Dec 3, 2018 at 11:46am PST, God always has a plan, and that plan is about to be a lot of fun #AO1, A post shared by Sam Ehlinger (@sehlinger) on Oct 14, 2018 at 11:46am PDT, Dad, I know you’re having a party in Heaven right now. NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 01: Sam Ehlinger #11 of the Texas Longhorns throws a pass against the Georgia Bulldogs during the Allstate Sugar Bowl. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. AUSTIN, Texas — To Texas quarterback Sam Ehlinger, football is more than just an opportunity to play – it's a chance to honor his late father. You can find out more about which cookies we are using in our Privacy Policy. He suffered a reported heart attack during the swim portion at 46 years old. Ross Ehlinger, Sam's father, died on March 3, 2013, during the Escape from Alcatraz triathlon in San Francisco. It is clear that Sam has a heart for the game and a heart for his family. "He definitely taught me everything I knew about the game," said Ehlinger about his late father. "The way I felt by taking care of my family, I think that carried over to how I lead on the field," Ehlinger said. To go from... Why charitable push hits home for Texas' Tom Herman, Sam Ehlinger amid coronavirus … — UCF QB McKenzie Milton offers forgiveness to Mazzi Wilkins following catastrophic injury "It was something we were always looking forward to, something we could always talk about. “And so then from that point on, my role switched. After playing in nine games and starting six as a freshman in 2017, Ehlinger started all 14 games for Texas last season. Sam led the UT football team to victory earlier in 2019 at the Sugar Bowl, the championship game for the Big 12 Conference and Southeastern Conference, while his mother was on the sideline cheering him along. Every moment I know you’re with me and I am thankful for what you taught me when you were here. “When his dad passed away when we were in middle school, we kind of noticed that this dude was a leader, and he was just built different,” Chambers said. “There was no way we were missing a game,” Jena said, adding, “There’s two things we’re going to do, and that is we’re going to go to Texas football games and we’re going to go to church.”, Even through the tough times, The University of Texas has always been a source of happiness for my family & I. After playing in nine games and starting six as a freshman in 2017, Ehlinger started all 14 games for Texas last season. Each time he takes the field, it’s a chance to honor his late father. "Texas football was kind of the connecting point for my family," Ehlinger said, as seen in the above video. I rarely saw him shed a tear over it. It wasn’t, ‘What can I do for myself to feel better?’ It was, ‘What can I do for my family to make them feel better?'”. But the Texas QB was forced to mature at a much younger age than most following the tragic and sudden death of his father, Ross Ehlinger, in 2013.