Arch Manning has always played his way, now it’s his turn in Texas
Arch Manning did something very unusual for a quarterback, especially in today’s college football.
he waited.
The No. 1 player in the 2023 Rivals250 is texas That’s all Alabama and georgia I was going to sit a year behind Quinn Ewers.
When Ewers returns for the 2024 season, no one but Austin would have blamed him for Manning bolting. It’s highly unlikely that such an elite quarterback would sit for two years in today’s situation.
But Manning has done everything his way through recruiting and since arriving at Texas. Now, with Ewers finally announcing his entry into the NFL Draft on Wednesday, the keys to running the Longhorns’ offense are in Manning’s hands.
He’s been given a Lamborghini, and I’m sure Manning will gulp it down.
There’s a lot about Manning’s game and his frame of mind that’s special. It speaks volumes that he had the perseverance and courage to sit out for two years and play only in limited situations for two Texas teams that made it to the College Football Playoff.
One of the five-star QBs in the 2023 class, Manning and quarterback only tennessee‘s Niko Iamareava started this season and was caught up in the transfer portal rumors that were rampant recently, but he’s still with the team after graduating from high school.
Dante Moore is University of California Los Angeles – He was basically thrown to the wolves by his former coach chip kelly – and then transferred to Oregon State. Moore reportedly told People he wasn’t ready to start as a freshman and purposely went to the Ducks so he could learn behind Dillon Gabriel for a season before taking over the offense in Eugene. That’s what it means.
Signed Malachi Nelson University of Southern CaliforniaI transferred there. boise state There he didn’t get the starting job, transferred from there and is now Utep. At one point, Nelson was in serious contention for the No. 1 overall spot in the class.
Finally, Jackson Arnold oklahoma All they had to do this year was bench Michael Hawkins, but when that didn’t work out, the Sooners went back to Arnold in a debacle situation. That led to the transfer of Arnold, who is now headed to Auburn and should be a starter heading into next season.
The 2024 class includes five-star Julian Sain, a transfer from Alabama. ohio Five-star QB Eyre Noland from Ohio State transferred before playing Down in Tuscaloosa. south carolina. And, in a notable move from the 2025 class, four-star Jaron Sagaportele is coming from Oregon State. Cal After being with the Ducks at the Rose Bowl and practicing together for that game.
Manning avoided all that drama by sitting back and waiting (rather than chasing instant headlines).
Ewers is also a former No. 1 overall prospect who had a great career at Texas, but was probably underwhelmed in the big picture (probably becoming a fringe first-round pick). He was also a transfer quarterback himself, and after one season At Ohio State University, I came to Texas.
He has the arm talent to move up draft boards, but his numbers didn’t improve between his second and third seasons in Austin, so that could be an issue.
But nevertheless, everything was cleared up for Manning to finally step into the spotlight.
He didn’t want it through the hiring process and got very few interviews. He did not play 7-on-7 or go through the normal routine of camp or All-Star events. I was critical of some of these decisions. Because he still maintains that having fun with his peers as a child was an important part of this whole thing, and he missed that.
Either way, Manning did things his way and now everything is in place to not only get Texas back to the College Football Playoff, but to take the next step.
coach Steve Sarkisian He has managed Manning perfectly the past two years. Some may argue that he should have played sooner.
But this is Manning’s time. There’s a reason he’s the No. 1 player in the 2023 class. He has the pedigree and incredible skill.
And Manning may take over at just the perfect time and prove to be just the guy the Longhorns need to bring Austin another national title.
