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Xavier Worthy sets lofty expectations for Arch Manning in 2025: 'I expect nothing less than a Heisman'

ns_headshot_2024-clearby:Nick Schultz•about 10 hours•

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Kansas City Chiefs WR Xavier Worthy and Texas QB Arch Manning
Photo of Xavier Worthy: © Mark Konezny-Imagn Images; Photo of Arch Manning: © Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In 2023, Xavier Worthy got a front-row seat to Arch Manning’s freshman year at Texas. Manning sat behind Quinn Ewers on the depth chart after arriving as a highly rated recruit, but ended up seeing action late in the year.

At the time, Worthy told Manning he could win the Heisman Trophy during his college career. As he gets ready to take over as the Longhorns’ starter in 2025, that bar hasn’t changed.

Speaking at Super Bowl LIX media day on Monday, Worthy said he expects Manning to bring home college football’s top honor. When asked if a national championship could also be in the cards, he said the two go hand-in-hand.

“Arch is a dog, man,” Worthy said. “I expect nothing less than a Heisman. … He’s gonna get [a national championship], too. To win the Heisman, you’ve got to be in that conversation.”

Manning appeared in two games as a true freshman, but made 10 appearances as a redshirt freshman in 2024 after Ewers came back. He threw for 969 yards and nine touchdowns, along with two interceptions, while adding 115 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.

Expectations remain high for the former Five Star Plus+ recruit, who arrived as the No. 1 overall player from the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. Worthy made it clear where the bar was from the start, though.

“Arch knows what I expect of him,” Worthy said. “I told Arch he was going to win the Heisman when I was there. It’s nothing that he doesn’t expect already.”

Arch Manning’s dual-threat ability is a big reason why there’s so much hype around him. He’s shown flashes already while entering games in goal-line packages and on the occasional third- or fourth-down plays.

In fact, ESPN’s Marty Smith said the buzz is going to keep getting louder. He predicted it could reach the levels of the late 2000s in Gainesville.

“It’s going to be Tim Tebow level of hysteria this fall when we go to Austin, Texas, when he is behind center full time for the first time,” Smith said. “It’s going to be like it was with Tebow at Florida. Everywhere they go they’re going to be rock stars. And that is what I anticipate, and I think that’s what we’re going to see.”