Aaron Murray evaluates spring game performance by Arch Manning

On a recent episode of On3’s The Hard Count host JD PicKell brought on former Georgia Bulldogs star quarterback Aaron Murray. The two went over a wide array of stories going on throughout the college football landscape. Towards the end of his appearance on the show, Murray addressed the criticism of Texas Longhorns freshman quarterback Arch Manning following his spring game performance and why he did not outshine second-year quarterback Quinn Ewers.

“…Yes, we’re going to be critical, especially with a guy like Arch who has these high expectations,” said Murray. “But listen, he should be in high school right now. So, if anything, you should be grateful for the fact that with the college rules, with the fact that so many kids are mid-year enrolling; that he’s been able to get in, get 15 practices, get some reps, start building the chemistry, start learning the offense, and put himself in a situation that if Ewers has a great year and goes to the NFL; he’s a year and a half now already a spring, fall camp in to maybe compete for the job or be given the job come next spring. So, it’s all positive.”

Last season was Ewers’ first year as a starter at the collegiate level. The sophomore spent his first year at Ohio State behind a slew of quarterbacks, including likely first-round pick in the 2023 and NFL Draft CJ Stroud. Last year for Texas, Ewers showed flashes of his brilliance at quarterback, which made him the number one overall recruit for two separate recruiting classes.

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Murray says Manning is under higher pressure at Texas

When your grandfather’s name is Archie and your two uncles are Peyton and Eli, and two are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame with another likely to join, there might be added pressure on you if you choose to follow in their footsteps and play quarterback. Still, it would be hard to believe that Arch Manning’s family did not prepare him for the level of scrutiny he would face at the next level. But the fact that he chose Texas only amplifies the pressure on him even more, as Murray explains.

“I was a mid-year guy; your head spinning all over the place. There’s nerves out the wazoo. I was a highly recruited kid; I’m not a Manning — those pressures are even higher, especially at a place like Texas. So let’s just take a break and continue to trust Sark that he’s going to work him — get him ready to go for his time is ready. But we kind of knew this was Ewers’ job. Ewers had flashes last year, didn’t finish the season off great, but super, super talented. They got some talent around him. It was gonna be an uphill battle for Manning to win that thing out anyways.”

Manning is young and just starting his college career. Even more so, as Murray pointed out, he technically should still be at high school. While fans are expecting great things out of Manning because of various reasons, he is still a freshman, and spring was his first taste of what college football is like at an elite level. With the talent that he has, when his number is called in the future, Manning should be ready to go. But for now, he needs more time in the program to develop and grow properly.