In the most recent episode of “Fansville,” Deputy Quinn Ewers is urged to name for backup however resists. After a quick change together with his fellow officer, Texas’ third-year beginning quarterback delivers the punchline.
“We don’t want any backup, even when he has nice hair and well-known kinfolk,” Ewers mentioned.
The allusion to Arch Manning is each an amusing second and intelligent writing in Ewers’ nationwide Dr Pepper business. But it surely additionally hints on the distinctive dynamic at Texas. Ewers, the previous No. 1 recruit in America, is among the most well-known names within the sport, a Heisman Trophy candidate who took the Longhorns to the Faculty Soccer Playoff final 12 months.
But Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and son of Cooper, nonetheless looms giant, at the very least figuratively, due to these well-known kinfolk and Arch’s lofty recruiting standing (he additionally was the No. 1 recruit in his class). That Arch has appeared in two video games and tried simply 5 passes in his Longhorns profession but continues to be given a wink and a nod within the beginning quarterback’s advert underscores the intrigue surrounding him.
However 19 months into his school profession, we’ve seen solely 27 sport snaps of Arch, which solely heightens the fascination (followers love the backup quarterback, proper?). How a lot will we see of the redshirt freshman in 2024?
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Manning stays affected person
One of many first questions informal observers ask about Manning is whether or not he has thought of transferring since he hasn’t began. Up to now, Manning has given no indication that’s within the playing cards.
It’s honest to surprise as a result of switch quarterbacks have turn into the norm. Of the 68 energy convention groups, 43 are anticipated to begin transfers this season, in keeping with Yahoo Sports activities, a 63 p.c price.
However when requested in December earlier than the Sugar Bowl whether or not he thought of making a transfer whereas working towards as third on the depth chart a lot of the season, Manning mentioned no.
“I haven’t seemed into transferring in any respect,” he mentioned then. “I’m simply centered on creating and serving to this group in any method I can. And hopefully in the future enjoying for the College of Texas like I’ve all the time needed to.”
This summer time on the Manning Passing Academy, he reiterated his want to remain in Austin whereas acknowledging how powerful it’s to remain affected person.
“It’s powerful since you need to be on the market enjoying along with your boys,” Manning mentioned in July. “However (it got here all the way down to) simply realizing there’s nowhere else I need to be, and it was my dream to play at Texas. I’m going to stay it out and play there ultimately.”
GO DEEPER
Arch Manning and different QBs clarify determination to switch or keep put
Manning and his household put lots of time and care into the recruiting course of. Arch knew what he was getting into with Ewers already at Texas. The prospect to develop beneath Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who has an extended observe document of teaching profitable quarterbacks, was vital to Manning.
Sarkisian’s pupils embody former USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, former Washington quarterback Jake Locker and former Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.
“A part of your recruiting is your observe document,” Sarkisian mentioned at SEC media days. “We’ve been lucky to teach some fairly good quarterbacks. We’ve been lucky to do it for some many years now. We’ve been lucky to have some actually good quarterback rooms, and I feel the Manning household is fairly nicely conscious of that.
“I feel they educated Arch to attempt to put himself in one of the best place to attempt to play in one of the best convention in America after which in the end put himself in one of the best place to additional his profession enjoying within the Nationwide Soccer League.”
Due to that plan, Sarkisian doesn’t suppose Manning’s determination to attend it out has been too troublesome.
“I feel Arch’s improvement has been vital to the household, and he’s reaping the advantage of these issues,” Sarkisian mentioned. “It hasn’t been very troublesome in any respect. I feel it’s been fairly easy for him.”
In Texas’ spring sport, Arch Manning accomplished 19 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. (Sara Diggins / USA At present)
Ewers is entrenched because the starter
Going into 2024, there’s little doubt who QB1 is at Texas and there shouldn’t be. Ewers, who bypassed the NFL Draft to return for another season, took large steps ahead in 2023. He considerably improved in most main statistical classes together with completion share (58.1 to 69 p.c), passing yards (2,177 to three,479), touchdowns (15 to 22), yards per try (7.4 to eight.8) and passer score (132.6 to 158.6). He additionally turned extra constant.
This 12 months, he’s beginning to have the look of a frontrunner. Sarkisian mentioned in July that despite the fact that his bodily improvement and development have been nice, he has been extra enthusiastic about Ewers’ private and emotional improvement.
“That has instilled a ton of confidence in all people in our constructing,” Sarkisian mentioned. “He walks in that constructing like he’s the beginning quarterback on the College of Texas for a top-five soccer group, and I feel that has permeated all through our locker room. …
“Now do I need extra touchdowns, much less interceptions, increased completion share? After all. However I feel these issues are a byproduct of his preparation, are a byproduct of the boldness that he exudes and the best way he goes to work.”
Historical past says the Longhorns will want Arch in some unspecified time in the future
In every of Sarkisian’s three seasons, he has needed to flip to his backup quarterback. In 2021, he benched Hudson Card for Casey Thompson two weeks into the season however wound up needing each down the stretch due to accidents.
In 2022, Ewers missed three video games with an damage and missed two extra final 12 months. With this season probably longer due to the 12-team Playoff, it stands to cause that, in some unspecified time in the future, the Longhorns want to show to Manning.
“Very comfy if Arch goes within the sport that he’ll go in and function and function at a excessive stage,” Sarkisian mentioned Thursday.
There’s pleasure round Manning’s improvement
Final season was a studying expertise for Manning. After beginning his complete highschool profession, sitting on the bench as QB3 was a problem, particularly in his first months on campus.
“There have been lots of powerful days. I’m not going to lie,” Manning mentioned in December. “I used to be by no means a backup in highschool. There are some days once you graduate early, you’re alone in your dorm room and also you’re like, ‘It’s one other day of preventing for the third-string job.’”
In his first spring sport, issues have been clearly shifting quick for Manning. By the point he made his school debut in opposition to Texas Tech, flashes of his athletic skill and arm expertise have been current. However there have been nonetheless some freshman jitters as he dropped a shotgun snap.
This spring, he confirmed vital development. Manning dazzled within the Orange and White sport, trying comfy, assured and in command whereas throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He was correct with 4 of his seven incompletions hitting a receiver’s arms.
With Texas’ 2023 backup, Maalik Murphy, having transferred to Duke, Manning is the clear No. 2 quarterback. Sarkisian mentioned because the Longhorns embark on the 2024 season, Manning has taken an enormous step ahead in his improvement.
“I’d most likely say (he’s) light-years forward of the place he was final 12 months presently,” Sarkisian mentioned Thursday. “His understanding of what we’re attempting to do offensively, the nuances of the scheme, the timing of sure throws, the protections, all of these issues. And I simply suppose his general consolation stage and confidence is way increased than it was a 12 months in the past presently.”
On Monday, Sarkisian mentioned he needs to play lots of gamers within the early a part of the season as Texas develops depth for a season it hopes extends into mid-January. “For those who’re within the two-deep, you’re enjoying within the first half,” Sarkisian mentioned.
Does that imply Manning will play within the first half Saturday in opposition to Colorado State?
“We’ll discover out,” Sarkisian mentioned.
(Picture: Tim Warner / Getty Photographs)
