After two years of waiting in the wings, Arch Manning is poised to become the face of Texas football. The 20-year-old quarterback, who arrived in Austin amid tremendous hype, is now set to take over as QB1 for the Longhorns.
For some, this move has come later than expected. But according to analysts and former stars alike, the timing may be perfect for Manning to shine – not just as a starter, but as a transformational talent.
Since committing to Texas in 2022, Manning has been the subject of intense public scrutiny. With a surname linked to NFL greatness and five-star recruit credentials, expectations were sky-high.
Yet despite the buzz, head coach Steve Sarkisian stood by Quinn Ewers, who transferred in from Ohio State and held the starting role through the 2023 season.
Manning, instead of pushing for an early takeover, embraced the backup role, learning behind Ewers and trusting the process Sarkisian laid out.
“I think Arch is going to be incredible. He’s got everything around him to be incredible,” said national college football analyst Josh Pate.
On a recent episode of his show, Pate compared Manning’s potential debut to the breakout campaigns of Trevor Lawrence at Clemson and Tua Tagovailoa at Alabama, both of whom altered the course of their teams’ seasons.
“They’re just immediately ballers. And they fundamentally change every game they play in,” Pate added.
While some critics have questioned why Manning didn’t win the starting job sooner, Pate pushed back on the narrative that his bench time indicates weakness.
“I think there’s a whole lot more to it than that,” he said. “I think Sark knew last year that Quinn Ewers was hurt but able to go. I think he trusted him; I think there was a loyalty factor there.”
That loyalty, Pate believes, doesn’t reflect poorly on Manning – in fact, it might have helped him mature in ways that go beyond the stat sheet.
Cam Newton backs Manning’s long game
Former NFL MVP Cam Newton sees similarities between Manning’s patience and his own path to success.
Newton began his career at Florida backing up Tim Tebow, transferred to Blinn College, and finally exploded onto the scene at Auburn, winning the Heisman Trophy and becoming the No. 1 pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
“Go somewhere that after three years you can put yourself in a position to go to the league. That doesn’t mean that I’m going somewhere where I can play early or start. Just because you’re starting doesn’t mean you’re getting developed,” Newton said on his podcast 4 & 1.
His message was clear: player development and timing matter more than instant gratification. Newton also believes that Manning’s years behind Ewers were far from wasted.
“Arch will be a fool if he has not learned anything from Quinn Ewers. How he prepared, how he led his team, and just how he handled and managed the expectations for being the quarterback at a university like Texas,” Newton said.
Those lessons will be put to the test this fall. With Ewers now in the NFL, all eyes are on Manning as he finally steps into the spotlight.
He’ll do so with a potent offense around him and the full weight of Texas’ playoff hopes on his shoulders. But if the past two years have taught Manning anything, it’s how to prepare, wait, and then strike when the moment is right.
Manning threw for 939 yards and nine touchdowns last season in limited action, giving fans a glimpse of what could come next. The pressure is immense, but so is the potential.
As Josh Pate put it, “Arch Manning could be incredible this year… There’s a lot that goes into that.” With the spotlight now fully on him, Manning has every chance to prove why the three-year plan might have been the smartest move all along.
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