Players and coaches in Texas are confident in rookie quarterback Arch Manning as a backup.
Quinn Ewers, a redshirt sophomore quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, has missed five games overall in 2022 and 2023 due to shoulder injuries. The injuries vary depending on the shoulder.
The last time the Longhorns faced the Crimson Tide in the postseason, they were playing for a national championship. However, on the fifth play from scrimmage, star quarterback Colt McCoy went down and could not continue, putting freshman quarterback Garrett Gilbert in the spotlight. Gilbert committed five turnovers, including a fumble inside the Alabama 20-yard line down 24-21, and two of his four interceptions came on the final two possessions.
Because of the time crunch caused by the intersection of the football postseason calendar and the academic calendar, Texas freshman Arch Manning is just one play away from leading the Longhorns in the College Football Playoffs. This is due to redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy’s decision to enter the NCAA transfer portal earlier this month.
“I think it sucks, I hate it for all of our guys that had to go on the portal prior to us playing in the College Football Playoffs,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “These guys have been working extremely hard since January, putting in a lot of effort with our team throughout the season, whether it be in winter conditioning, spring practice, summer workouts, fall training camp, or any other capacity. Regardless of their position, as a backup, scout team member, or part-time player, they still made a significant commitment to this program, and I feel bad for them that they weren’t able to see it through.”
Without a doubt, Murphy was a major factor in the Longhorns’ first-ever postseason appearance. The California gunslinger only needed to throw one pass to beat Houston on the road. And even though Murphy committed two ugly turnovers, the team easily defeated BYU 35–6 at home. However, despite recording two more turnovers, Murphy’s high points of 248 yards and a touchdown against Kansas State were sufficient to set up the defense for the game-winning, overtime goal-line stand.
Despite Gilbert’s difficulties from nearly 14 years ago and Murphy’s developmental difficulties, the Texas coaches and players are at least being honest in their public comments regarding Manning’s suitability to replace Ewers should the need arise.
“This game’s backup is Arch. Sarkisian stated, “He’s more than capable of playing really good football for us.” “I believe that he demonstrated his abilities when given the chance to play here against Tech.”
The Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium crowd was ecstatic when quarterback Eli Manning made his highly-anticipated debut against the Longhorns in the fourth quarter of the team’s eventual 57-7 victory over the Red Raiders in the regular-season finale. Manning is the nation’s top prospect in the 2023 recruiting class and the heir to football’s royal quarterback family.
Early on, Manning’s athleticism was evident as he scrambled for five yards and twelve yards on his first two dropbacks. On his third attempt, he finally connected for a 17-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Johntay Cook. On a fourth and five, Manning found junior wide receiver Casey Cain for 13 yards to cap off a 13-play, 91-yard drive that resulted in Texas’ game-winning touchdown.
Manning took the game-winning snap in victory formation to win the Big 12 Championship in a less memorable performance in Arlington.
Since Manning enrolled early in January of last year, he has been on campus for almost a full year, and Sarkisian no longer views him as a first-year player.
“You’re not really a freshman anymore—this is your sophomore year, okay? So what would it look like going into your sophomore year in terms of preparing you to play?,” I made a joke with him the other day. We are doing just that,” remarked Sarkisian.
In practice, Jerrin Thompson, a senior safety from Texas, has faced Manning and observed how the young quarterback has adapted to the fast-paced college football landscape by learning how defenses hide coverages.
To be sure, Manning has always had a strong work ethic. Archie, his grandfather, and Peyton and Eli, his uncles, made sure of it if his father Cooper didn’t.
Thompson stated on Thursday, “Arch has always been head down first and work team first.” “He’s never been concerned with getting a leading role or anything else.”
Up until Murphy’s departure, Manning was the third-team quarterback, but he has prioritized mental drills, according to his official visit host and close friend, redshirt sophomore safety Michael Taaffe.
“When Quinn or Malik are up, he’s standing over there and it’s this, this, this I’m going to go here, when it’s this coverage, I’m going here when it’s that coverage and kind of mimicking what the other quarterbacks do and you asking a bunch of questions,” Taaffe said. “He’s very intentional with his work.” “He truly understands what it means to be a redshirt freshman and that your potential is still far from realized.”
