Joel Klatt believes quarterback chatter between Arch Manning, Quinn Ewers is 'overblown'

Texas’ quarterbacks are always going to be a conversation with two its players being Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning. With that said, any of the discussion about an actual debate between the two isn’t even on the docket according to Joel Klatt.

Klatt discussed the dynamic between the two highly-touted quarterbacks in Austin during an appearance on ‘The Herd’ on Monday. To him, it’s interesting that anyone only ever wants to ask him about Manning when it’s Ewers that is once again back to lead the Longhorns as one of the best players in the country on one of the nation’s best teams.

“Anytime I get asked about Texas by anybody that is not involved with the program, they all talk about Arch,” said Klatt. “Anytime I go to Texas and I’m around the program, all they talk about is Quinn Ewers.”

“I do find it fascinating. Everybody that asks me about Texas is like, ‘Well, when’s Arch going to be ready?’. I go down to Texas, I talk with Steve Sarkisian, I talk with Quinn Ewers, I talk with the players. I talk with everybody around there and all they talk about is Quinn Ewers. That’s all they talk about,” Klatt explained. “He’s their guy! I think people need to really wrap their heads around that. He is going to be a viable Heisman Trophy candidate. He’s one of the reasons why they will be, again, one of the best teams in the country.”

To be clear, though, that stance doesn’t take anything away from Manning. He himself is a former five-star that will get his chance to be the starter down on The 40 Acres. It’s just that his role for now will be one as a backup, which, considering the circumstances, is still a very valuable spot for him to be in.

“I think that there is an overblown perception of how close the quarterback battle is. That doesn’t mean Arch isn’t good because he is,” said Klatt. “There’s a good chance that, at some point, he’s going to have to play. Ewers has been hurt in his career, they’re going to blow some people out. By the way, you’re going to have to play 16 games, you know. Like, the season is lengthening out. There’s a good chance that all of these backups at all of these schools are going to have to play.”

In their first season together, Ewers was the full-time starter while Manning was third on the depth chart behind Maalik Murphy.

Ewers, a sophomore last fall, would throw for nearly 3,500 yards to go with 22 touchdowns and six picks on 69% completion. That production would help Texas to a 12-2 record overall in their best finish in years as they won the Big 12 and made the College Football Playoff.

As for Manning as a freshman, he appeared in a pair of games. He completed two of his five throws for 30 yards in a blowout against Texas Tech in the season finale. He also closed out some the final moments of the Big 12 Championship against Oklahoma State.

Now, with Murphy transferring out, Ewers will return as QB1 with Manning likely taking the step up to QB2.

Teams could do a lot worse than having two quarterbacks who were the top quarterback recruit and top overall prospect in their respective classes. It’s just not as much of a deliberation as many make it out to be per Klatt.