Colt McCoy: Arch Manning maximizing potential by learning from Steve Sarkisian
After a year behind Quinn Ewers as a freshman, Arch Manning is looking at that same role as a sophomore in 2024. But with Maalik Murphy off to Duke via the transfer portal, the former top recruit will now be Ewers’ primary backup.
Manning’s college journey is an interesting one after generating so much excitement on the recruiting trail. He’s looking at another year of a backup role, and although some said he should transfer after Ewers came back, the sense remained Manning was happy in Austin under Steve Sarkisian.
Longhorn great Colt McCoy echoed that sentiment Friday, breaking down Manning’s role through two years and why it speaks to what Sarkisian is building. In the process, the young quarterback can maximize his potential by continuing to learn.
“I love Arch,” McCoy said. “I think that having the ability to sit for a couple years, it’s not normal. It’s not normal in college football these days. A lot of guys transfer, a lot of guys want a chance to play and that’s great. I think from Arch’s perspective, he’s working really hard. He’s learning a bunch from Quinn.
“If I’m a high school quarterback, if I’m growing up in Texas, there’s one place – I want to go play for Coach Sark. You watch his offense, you watch the way that he calls plays, you watch the formations, the mismatches, the tells the quarterback gets before the ball is in his hand. That’s what you want to want to go play for. I think Arch recognizes that.”
Colt McCoy: Arch Manning is ‘very comfortable’
After the portal opened following the College Football Playoff selection show, Murphy announced his plans to enter and ultimately committed to Duke. Then, after the CFP, Ewers announced his return to Texas. That meant Arch Manning was looking at another year in a reserve role.
But he stayed true to his word, opting to stay at Texas to learn under Sarkisian. To McCoy, it’s another year of taking in information that will pay off when it comes time for Manning to take the reins.
“Arch is saying, I’m very comfortable here, where I’m at,” McCoy said. “Yeah, we all want to play. But I’m learning, I’m growing so that when the ball’s in my hands when I get out there, I trust the system. I trust all this growth that I’ve made my first two years, and I’m gonna go out there and play.
“I think he’s gonna be well prepared for that, and it’s definitely an advantage for UT. It’s an advantage for Texas to have a guy like that, prepared.”
Although Manning isn’t looking at a starting job in 2024, McCoy’s message sounded similar to some of his family members such as uncle Eli Manning. Sarkisian’s track record of getting quarterbacks to the NFL – he developed Matt Leinart and Tua Tagovailoa, to name a few – is why quarterbacks would want to play at Texas.
And with Trey Owens also coming in as a highly touted recruit, McCoy sees a bright future in Austin.
“This is a place where if you’re a quarterback, you want to be,” McCoy said. “You can learn and you can grow. And you can learn a system that’s gonna make you NFL ready. I think for UT, we’re blessed to have a guy like Coach Sark.”