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Kirby Smart describes what makes Arch Manning scary to prepare for

Stephen Samraby:Steve Samra•12/04/24•

SamraSource

Arch Manning
Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images

Kirby Smart and the Georgia Bulldogs are preparing for the SEC Championship Game against the Texas Longhorns, and while Quinn Ewers is their starting quarterback, Arch Manning’s potential involvement has his attention.

Texas’ backup signal-caller got some burn earlier this season, and Steve Sarkisian has found some ways to get Manning involved in a myriad of scenarios, even with Ewers healthy enough to start for the Longhorns. Smart recognizes it might come up this weekend, and he’s readying to try and stifle Manning’s potential success.

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“He’s what everybody thought he was,” Smart said, regarding Manning, via a press conference earlier this week. “He’s athletic, smart, thick. Great thrower. He can run their entire offense, while at the same time creating designed runs, or off-schedule runs. Both are scary. Because designed runs, with him, are tough to defend, because you’re having to defend the whole field. And then he’s also an elite thrower and passer. I mean, he’s a great player.

“They’ve brought him along that way. He’s gained confidence each and every week. He had to start some games. I mean, you couldn’t write a better story for him, in terms of development, to be ready to go and be the starter.”

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While Manning hasn’t started a game since September, he’s still found a way to be involved in multiple showdowns for Texas. It’s usually with his legs, but he did receive a shot at igniting the Longhorns’ offense during their clash with the Bulldogs earlier this season.

Right before halftime, Sarkisian tried to jumpstart a silent Texas offense by inserting Manning over Ewers. It didn’t go so well, as Manning only completed three of his six attempts, amassing 19 yards and getting sacked twice before Ewers returned to the game.

Barring an injury to Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning likely won’t see extended action in the SEC title game, but Kirby Smart is preparing nonetheless. Georgia doesn’t want any surprises, as the Bulldogs look to assert their dominance over the conference once again this coming weekend.