INDIANAPOLIS — Arch Manning is no less than a yr away from fielding questions on the NFL Scouting Mix. Nonetheless, his former Texas teammates absolutely count on the sophomore quarterback to ultimately be part of them on the highest degree.
“I believe he can,” extensive receiver Matthew Golden mentioned Friday. “He has the center to do it. Arch is available in every day, and he goes to work. He acts like a walk-on. He has a narrative. He’s making an attempt to make a reputation for himself.”
Manning began two video games for the Longhorns final yr as a redshirt freshman whereas filling in for injured starter Quinn Ewers. Manning, who stands 6 toes 4 and weighs 225 kilos, completed the season with 939 passing yards, 9 touchdowns, two interceptions and a 67.8 completion proportion.
The nephew of Peyton Manning and Eli Manning and the grandson of Archie Manning — all first-round NFL quarterbacks — the youngest Manning rushed for 108 yards and 4 touchdowns on 25 carries. His 67-yard landing dash towards UTSA was the longest by a Texas quarterback since Vince Younger’s 80-yard run in 2005.
“He’s a tremendous thrower, however what shocked me essentially the most is that he can run,” receiver Isaiah Bond mentioned. “I wasn’t anticipating that in any respect, however Arch has some wheels on him. I’ve simply by no means seen a quarterback run like that earlier than, particularly as a result of he’s an enormous man, too. So, to be shifting at that pace, he’s fairly wonderful.”
Up to now 25 years, Manning is the one FBS or NFL QB to publish a landing cross exceeding 75 yards, a landing run for greater than 65 yards and one other 50-yard scoring cross in the identical sport. Manning did that towards UTSA, a sport he didn’t even begin. Manning spelled Ewers in that sport and accomplished 9 of 12 passes for 4 touchdowns and 223 yards whereas dashing for his 67-yarder in a 56-7 win.
Arch Manning, proper, began two video games in 2024 when Quinn Ewers was out with an damage. (David Buono / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)
Because the nation’s No. 1 recruit in 2023, Manning instantly utilized strain to Ewers, who was No. 1 in 2021. Then with these performances, Manning’s presence intensified the strain on Ewers, which pressured him to repeatedly enhance to stay a starter.
“It says within the Bible, iron sharpens iron,” Ewers mentioned. “So, it was good for me and him to type of get to work collectively. And we each are competing for a similar job, however us being friends off the sphere was good for us as properly.
“I wouldn’t commerce any of that, as a result of it’s the fact of the place. There’s all the time going to be an enormous identify within the room or across the room. So, I’m glad that he was part of our crew, and I’m glad that I needed to hear about it as properly.”
After his two begins towards Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State, Manning performed sparingly the remainder of the season, finishing 6 of 12 passes for 38 yards and dashing 12 instances for 26 yards and a landing. The Longhorns reached the School Soccer Playoff semifinals of their first SEC marketing campaign.
With Ewers eyeing an NFL profession, it’s Manning’s time to face out at Texas. And his former teammates consider he’s prepared for the highlight.
“He’s gonna be a fantastic participant,” Ewers mentioned. “He’s a hard-working child. I believe that he has some traits that I had as properly. He’s positively acquired poise and composure, and I believe that he’s prepared for any second that arises as a result of he sat behind me, he noticed how I did it. After which clearly he’s going to have his ways in which he’s going to need to do it.”
“He can spin the ball actual properly,” Golden mentioned. “He can run the ball, too. I really feel like there’s nothing Arch can’t do. So, I’m excited to see what he’s going to do subsequent yr. For his caliber, how younger he’s, he understands the sport at a excessive degree.
“You possibly can inform when he’s within the sport. So, simply ready for him to get the chance to start out. It’s gonna be good.”
(Prime picture: Matthew Visinsky / Icon Sportswire through Getty Photographs)