Spring Storyline: Arch Manning‘s new role at Texas

After spending most of his true freshman season third on the Longhorns depth chart, redshirt freshman Arch Manning enters his second year at Texas as Quinn Ewers‘ backup.

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Manning was behind Ewers and Maalik Murphy for most of last season, not appearing in Texas’ early-season blowouts against Rice or Baylor. When Ewers was injured against Houston and kept out of games against BYU and Kansas State, Murphy was handed the reins and steered the Longhorns, often erratically, to three victories. Manning never saw a snap.

“In high school I never was a backup,” Manning said in December. “So this year being second or third string you get to kind of be behind and learn a lot from other guys and try to stay patient. I think I’ve learned a lot. You have to take a lot of mental reps and just try to prepare knowing that there’s a good chance you might not play but there’s also a chance you may play. So a lot of it is mental and it takes some time. But I think it’ll be worth it.”

Manning was thrust into the backup role temporarily against Texas Tech, where his appearance in an otherwise nondescript contest gave the Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium crowd some late-game juice. He remained in the role for the Big 12 Championship and the Sugar Bowl following Murphy’s decision to transfer ahead of the College Football Playoff.

What was temporary in December is now permanent. Ewers was declared the starter by Steve Sarkisian in February, and Manning enters spring drills solidly as his backup.

Being one play away isn’t completely new for Manning, the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 On3 Industry Ranking. But now, it’s one he knows is set to belong to him rather than one he’ll have to compete for as was the case last spring and preseason.

Sarkisian spoke in February about what he expects from Manning this spring and summer as he prepares for the Longhorns first season in the Southeastern Conference and his second year on campus.

“I think for Arch, it’s continuing on the path that he’s been on,” Sarkisian said. “I referenced it last year, kind of middle of the season, about that growth that he really started to take there in the second half of the season all the way up until the Sugar Bowl.”

The growth is what those inside the Longhorn football program is focused on. Elsewhere?

There’s consternation about him reportedly not opting into the upcoming EA Sports College Football 25 video game. There are members of his class who are set to start games, including games in the SEC, this season. There always seems to be out-of-nowhere and unfounded rumblings about Manning leaving Texas.

Even though Manning himself has shot them down…

Arch Manning: "Obviously there's always rumors, especially nowadays. I haven't looked into transferring at all. I'm just focused on developing and helping this team any way I can and hopefully one day playing for the University of Texas like I've always wanted to."

— Inside Texas (@InsideTexas) December 30, 2023

As has Manning’s uncle, Eli Manning…

“Obviously, I think the plan was Ewers would maybe go in the NFL, but he’s there,” Eli said. “It’s another year for for Arch to mature, learn the offense, get bigger and stronger in the weight room, and always be prepared to play. You never know what’s gonna happen.”

In Texas’ case, however, there is a track record of what might occur.

Ewers missed three games during the 2022 season after he was knocked out in the first quarter of the Longhorns’ loss to Alabama in Austin. He missed two contests in 2023 after suffering an injury against Houston.

Even though Ewers is now listed at 205 pounds, up from the 195 he was listed at for the 2023 season, the track record suggests Arch Manning needs to be ready to play meaningful snaps in meaningful games this season as the Longhorns embark on a new conference.

That was something Manning was cognizant of in December.

“I’ve tried the whole time to prepare like I’m the starter,” Manning said. “And I think obviously being a second string now there’s a better chance of going in – hopefully that doesn’t happen – but I’ve been trying to prepare like the starter the whole season and not gonna change now.”

Whether Manning sees mop-up duty or if he has to make his first career start this season, Sarkisian knows he has a special signal-caller functioning currently as his backup.

“I think Arch has got an extremely bright future,” Sarkisian said in February. “We’re very fortunate to have him on our roster. He’s got great leadership skills, got a great skill set.”

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Spring Storyline series

Quinn Ewers and the need to mesh with new receivers

Importance of culture in light of coaching, player departures