Nick Saban praises impact of Quinn Ewers-Arch Manning dynamic on Texas chemistry: 'They've got it together'

There’s an old football saying about quarterbacks: “If you have two quarterbacks, you have none.” Many would think this applies to Texas, having former 5-stars Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning in the room for the second straight season. Ewers is entering his third year as the Longhorns’ starter while Manning is a second-year player primed to be the backup again.

But there is no animosity between the two, something Nick Saban praised on Wednesday. Ewers and Manning are both comfortable in their respective roles. One will lead Texas into the SEC and the other is sitting for one more season and learning under Steve Sarkisian.

“The one thing I see about Quinn Ewers — he’s comfortable in his skin,” Saban said via SEC Now. “Which show maturity of their team. Because Sark hardly didn’t even play him in the spring, played Arch the whole time. Arch played great. Which is good. Arch is willing to play his role in what he wants to do to be the guy in the future. So, there is none of that talk [of Manning replacing Ewers]. Everybody is comfortable in their skin.”

That’s not the case everywhere of course. Not receiving the expected playing time has resulted in many a college quarterback changing locations in hopes of getting on the field more. In the era of the NCAA transfer portal, waiting two or three seasons is usually unheard nowadays, something Manning is doing.

Being patient and understanding the role he can play has Saban believing in the team chemistry Sarkisian has built at Texas. Everyone has the same mindset, looking to achieve the ultimate goal.

“I think that’s really, really important to team chemistry because that means everybody is bought into the same things,” Saban said. “That’s the only way you can have team chemistry because mediocre people don’t like high achievers, high achievers don’t like high achievers. You got to get all that together and I think they got it together.”

Saban went on to mention Manning may have the chance to play for Texas in 2024 and maybe save their season. Ewers has missed multiple games over the last two seasons due to injuries. Hudson Card played in relief in 2022, while Maalik Murphy was the guy last season.

Nobody is wishing an injury upon the veteran Texas quarterback but Manning could have his name called at some point. And with the College Football Playoff aspirations, being prepared for the moment could be the difference between being in the field and missing out.