In the most recent episode of “Fansville,” Deputy Quinn Ewers is urged to name for backup however resists. After a short trade along with his fellow officer, Texas’ third-year beginning quarterback delivers the punchline.
“We don’t want any backup, even when he has nice hair and well-known kin,” Ewers stated.
The allusion to Arch Manning is each an amusing second and intelligent writing in Ewers’ nationwide Dr Pepper industrial. Nevertheless it additionally hints on the distinctive dynamic at Texas. Ewers, the previous No. 1 recruit in America, is without doubt one of the most well-known names within the sport, a Heisman Trophy candidate who took the Longhorns to the School Soccer Playoff final yr.
But Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and son of Cooper, nonetheless looms massive, at the least figuratively, due to these well-known kin and Arch’s lofty recruiting standing (he additionally was the No. 1 recruit in his class). That Arch has appeared in two video games and tried simply 5 passes in his Longhorns profession but continues to be given a wink and a nod within the beginning quarterback’s advert underscores the intrigue surrounding him.
However 19 months into his faculty profession, we’ve seen solely 27 sport snaps of Arch, which solely heightens the fascination (followers love the backup quarterback, proper?). How a lot will we see of the redshirt freshman in 2024?
GO DEEPER
Texas is a CFP front-runner. Steve Sarkisian’s subsequent tall activity is retaining it that means
Manning stays affected person
One of many first questions informal observers ask about Manning is whether or not he has thought-about transferring since he hasn’t began. So far, Manning has given no indication that’s within the playing cards.
It’s honest to marvel as a result of switch quarterbacks have turn out to be the norm. Of the 68 energy convention groups, 43 are anticipated to start out transfers this season, in accordance with Yahoo Sports activities, a 63 p.c charge.
However when requested in December earlier than the Sugar Bowl whether or not he thought-about making a transfer whereas practising as third on the depth chart many of the season, Manning stated no.
“I haven’t appeared into transferring in any respect,” he stated then. “I’m simply centered on growing and serving to this workforce in any means I can. And hopefully someday enjoying for the College of Texas like I’ve all the time needed to.”
This summer time on the Manning Passing Academy, he reiterated his want to remain in Austin whereas acknowledging how robust it’s to remain affected person.
“It’s robust since you wish to be on the market enjoying along with your boys,” Manning stated in July. “However (it got here right down to) simply realizing there’s nowhere else I wish to be, and it was my dream to play at Texas. I’m going to stay it out and play there ultimately.”
GO DEEPER
Arch Manning and different QBs clarify resolution to switch or keep put
Manning and his household put plenty of time and care into the recruiting course of. Arch knew what he was getting into with Ewers already at Texas. The prospect to develop below Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who has a protracted monitor document of teaching profitable quarterbacks, was necessary to Manning.
Sarkisian’s pupils embody former USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, former Washington quarterback Jake Locker and former Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.
“A part of your recruiting is your monitor document,” Sarkisian stated at SEC media days. “We’ve been lucky to educate some fairly good quarterbacks. We’ve been lucky to do it for some a long time now. We’ve been lucky to have some actually good quarterback rooms, and I believe the Manning household is fairly properly conscious of that.
“I believe they educated Arch to attempt to put himself in the most effective place to attempt to play in the most effective convention in America after which finally put himself in the most effective place to additional his profession enjoying within the Nationwide Soccer League.”
Due to that plan, Sarkisian doesn’t assume Manning’s resolution to attend it out has been too troublesome.
“I believe Arch’s improvement has been necessary to the household, and he’s reaping the advantage of these issues,” Sarkisian stated. “It hasn’t been very troublesome in any respect. I believe it’s been fairly easy for him.”
In Texas’ spring sport, Arch Manning accomplished 19 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. (Sara Diggins / USA As we speak)
Ewers is entrenched because the starter
Going into 2024, there’s little question who QB1 is at Texas and there shouldn’t be. Ewers, who bypassed the NFL Draft to return for yet another season, took large steps ahead in 2023. He considerably improved in most main statistical classes together with completion proportion (58.1 to 69 p.c), passing yards (2,177 to three,479), touchdowns (15 to 22), yards per try (7.4 to eight.8) and passer ranking (132.6 to 158.6). He additionally turned extra constant.
This yr, he’s beginning to have the look of a frontrunner. Sarkisian stated in July that regardless that his bodily improvement and development have been nice, he has been extra enthusiastic about Ewers’ private and emotional improvement.
“That has instilled a ton of confidence in everyone in our constructing,” Sarkisian stated. “He walks in that constructing like he’s the beginning quarterback on the College of Texas for a top-five soccer workforce, and I believe that has permeated all through our locker room. …
“Now do I need extra touchdowns, much less interceptions, increased completion proportion? In fact. However I believe these issues are a byproduct of his preparation, are a byproduct of the boldness that he exudes and the best way he goes to work.”
Historical past says the Longhorns will want Arch sooner or later
In every of Sarkisian’s three seasons, he has needed to flip to his backup quarterback. In 2021, he benched Hudson Card for Casey Thompson two weeks into the season however wound up needing each down the stretch due to accidents.
In 2022, Ewers missed three video games with an damage and missed two extra final yr. With this season probably longer due to the 12-team Playoff, it stands to cause that, sooner or later, the Longhorns want to show to Manning.
“Very comfy if Arch goes within the sport that he’ll go in and function and function at a excessive stage,” Sarkisian stated Thursday.
There’s pleasure round Manning’s improvement
Final season was a studying expertise for Manning. After beginning his total highschool profession, sitting on the bench as QB3 was a problem, particularly in his first months on campus.
“There have been plenty of robust days. I’m not going to lie,” Manning stated in December. “I used to be by no means a backup in highschool. There are some days while you graduate early, you’re alone in your dorm room and also you’re like, ‘It’s one other day of preventing for the third-string job.’”
In his first spring sport, issues had been clearly shifting quick for Manning. By the point he made his faculty debut towards Texas Tech, flashes of his athletic potential and arm expertise had been current. However there have been nonetheless some freshman jitters as he dropped a shotgun snap.
This spring, he confirmed important development. Manning dazzled within the Orange and White sport, wanting comfy, assured and in command whereas throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He was correct with 4 of his seven incompletions hitting a receiver’s fingers.
With Texas’ 2023 backup, Maalik Murphy, having transferred to Duke, Manning is the clear No. 2 quarterback. Sarkisian stated because the Longhorns embark on the 2024 season, Manning has taken a giant step ahead in his improvement.
“I’d most likely say (he’s) light-years forward of the place he was final yr at the moment,” Sarkisian stated Thursday. “His understanding of what we’re making an attempt to do offensively, the nuances of the scheme, the timing of sure throws, the protections, all of these issues. And I simply assume his total consolation stage and confidence is way increased than it was a yr in the past at the moment.”
On Monday, Sarkisian stated he desires to play plenty of gamers within the early a part of the season as Texas develops depth for a season it hopes extends into mid-January. “If you happen to’re within the two-deep, you’re enjoying within the first half,” Sarkisian stated.
Does that imply Manning will play within the first half Saturday towards Colorado State?
“We’ll discover out,” Sarkisian stated.
(Photograph: Tim Warner / Getty Photographs)
