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Admittedly, Texas football star Arch Manning wasn't much of a basketball player in high school.
Sure, Manning was on an Isidore Newman hoops squad that won a Louisiana state championship, but he insists that "I was like the sixth or seventh man." In his mind, he's a better pickup player.
On the basketball court was really the only time in high school that Manning was anyone's backup. Manning then had to get used to that second-string life over his first two years as a Texas quarterback. But with Quinn Ewers now preparing for the NFL draft, Manning is officially QB1 in Austin.
"It was tough (to wait). It's tough in this age, but I hope it pays off," Manning said. "There's nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I've got friends here. I love this place. I want to be the quarterback at the University of Texas, so sometimes it's worth the wait."
GOLDEN: Texas football QB Quinn Ewers wants to show NFL he can be more than a backup
Manning met with media members in a couple of postgame settings last season while he filled in for an injured Ewers. He has also been obligated to entertain press scrums ahead of the 2024 Sugar Bowl and the 2025 Peach Bowl.
After Texas held its eighth practice of the spring Thursday, Manning held court with reporters for the first time as a starter. When asked about teammates like Trevor Goosby, Parker Livingstone and Spencer Shannon, Manning said he was impressed by their progress. He noted that Neal Brown — the ex-West Virginia coach who is now a special assistant at Texas — has worked with him on becoming a better leader. One of his NIL deals was brought up and Manning joked with a reporter that he needed to "get you some drip."
As for his predecessor, Manning shared that he and Ewers have a good relationship. The two recently spent some time together at the wedding of former UT lineman Hayden Conner.
"He's just been so good to me over the years," Manning said. 'It's probably pretty annoying having me as the backup, just with all the media stuff, but he handled it like a champ, and he was so good to me along the way."
That, though, is the world that Manning chose to enter when he signed with Texas as the top-rated player during the 2023 recruiting cycle. Over the next two years, Manning garnered the status of a folk hero as he sat behind Ewers. The Manning hype then amplified while he played well as Ewers nursed an abdominal strain and later as Texas created a specialized package to get its back-up on the field.
Now QB1, Manning insists that things haven't changed that much. Manning said he's always prepared as if he's the starter so the only thing that is different this spring is that he's now taking first-team reps. Manning added that he doesn't plan on changing much about his social life, although it may be harder to have dinner in peace these days.
"I can't quit doing normal things. I'm going to go eat dinner with my buddies and be a normal college kid," Manning said.
But could the perception of Manning change soon? If he lives up to the hype, contends for a Heisman Trophy and leads Texas to the promised land, he will become even more popular. But as Texas coach Steve Sarkisian noted about fans earlier this week, "they love the backup quarterback, but they hate interceptions."
Is Manning ready for that?
"You've got to be prepared for everything," Manning said. "It's coming, it's coming, so I'm prepared, and I'll be ready."
In limited action, Manning threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions last season while completing 61 of his 90 passes. He also scored on four of his 25 rushing attempts.
Manning will take over an offense that averaged 33 points and 437.5 yards per game last season but will have a new look this spring. Gone are leading receivers Matthew Golden, Isaiah Bond and Gunnar Helm. Texas needs to replace four starters on the offensive line and running back Jaydon Blue.
But Texas does return a 1,000-yard rusher in Quintrevion Wisner, and receivers DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Wingo were key contributors last year. Plus, Manning has some experience at the quarterback position.
"Arch from the snaps he had last year, he just showed his dominance and the leadership that he had in him already," Wisner said. "So for him to be able to come back this year and be the starting quarterback and take on that role head first, and just show the guys, like, 'I'm with y'all as long as y'all with me,' it's definitely something that we're looking forward to."
Because Texas isn't hosting a spring game this season, fans will have to wait until Aug. 30 to see what the team looks like with Manning as its starting quarterback. Due to the stakes and settings — Texas, a likely preseason top-five team, opens the 2025 season at Ohio State, the NCAA's defending champion — this may be the most-anticipated opener in some time at Texas.
"It feels good," Manning said of the spring practices thus far. "We've got a good team, a bunch of good guys. I'm excited to start taking some more (first-string) reps."
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This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Arch Manning ready to become Texas football's starting QB
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Sure, Manning was on an Isidore Newman hoops squad that won a Louisiana state championship, but he insists that "I was like the sixth or seventh man." In his mind, he's a better pickup player.
On the basketball court was really the only time in high school that Manning was anyone's backup. Manning then had to get used to that second-string life over his first two years as a Texas quarterback. But with Quinn Ewers now preparing for the NFL draft, Manning is officially QB1 in Austin.
"It was tough (to wait). It's tough in this age, but I hope it pays off," Manning said. "There's nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I've got friends here. I love this place. I want to be the quarterback at the University of Texas, so sometimes it's worth the wait."
GOLDEN: Texas football QB Quinn Ewers wants to show NFL he can be more than a backup
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Manning met with media members in a couple of postgame settings last season while he filled in for an injured Ewers. He has also been obligated to entertain press scrums ahead of the 2024 Sugar Bowl and the 2025 Peach Bowl.
After Texas held its eighth practice of the spring Thursday, Manning held court with reporters for the first time as a starter. When asked about teammates like Trevor Goosby, Parker Livingstone and Spencer Shannon, Manning said he was impressed by their progress. He noted that Neal Brown — the ex-West Virginia coach who is now a special assistant at Texas — has worked with him on becoming a better leader. One of his NIL deals was brought up and Manning joked with a reporter that he needed to "get you some drip."
As for his predecessor, Manning shared that he and Ewers have a good relationship. The two recently spent some time together at the wedding of former UT lineman Hayden Conner.
"He's just been so good to me over the years," Manning said. 'It's probably pretty annoying having me as the backup, just with all the media stuff, but he handled it like a champ, and he was so good to me along the way."
That, though, is the world that Manning chose to enter when he signed with Texas as the top-rated player during the 2023 recruiting cycle. Over the next two years, Manning garnered the status of a folk hero as he sat behind Ewers. The Manning hype then amplified while he played well as Ewers nursed an abdominal strain and later as Texas created a specialized package to get its back-up on the field.
Now QB1, Manning insists that things haven't changed that much. Manning said he's always prepared as if he's the starter so the only thing that is different this spring is that he's now taking first-team reps. Manning added that he doesn't plan on changing much about his social life, although it may be harder to have dinner in peace these days.
"I can't quit doing normal things. I'm going to go eat dinner with my buddies and be a normal college kid," Manning said.
But could the perception of Manning change soon? If he lives up to the hype, contends for a Heisman Trophy and leads Texas to the promised land, he will become even more popular. But as Texas coach Steve Sarkisian noted about fans earlier this week, "they love the backup quarterback, but they hate interceptions."
Is Manning ready for that?
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"You've got to be prepared for everything," Manning said. "It's coming, it's coming, so I'm prepared, and I'll be ready."
In limited action, Manning threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions last season while completing 61 of his 90 passes. He also scored on four of his 25 rushing attempts.
Manning will take over an offense that averaged 33 points and 437.5 yards per game last season but will have a new look this spring. Gone are leading receivers Matthew Golden, Isaiah Bond and Gunnar Helm. Texas needs to replace four starters on the offensive line and running back Jaydon Blue.
But Texas does return a 1,000-yard rusher in Quintrevion Wisner, and receivers DeAndre Moore Jr. and Ryan Wingo were key contributors last year. Plus, Manning has some experience at the quarterback position.
"Arch from the snaps he had last year, he just showed his dominance and the leadership that he had in him already," Wisner said. "So for him to be able to come back this year and be the starting quarterback and take on that role head first, and just show the guys, like, 'I'm with y'all as long as y'all with me,' it's definitely something that we're looking forward to."
Because Texas isn't hosting a spring game this season, fans will have to wait until Aug. 30 to see what the team looks like with Manning as its starting quarterback. Due to the stakes and settings — Texas, a likely preseason top-five team, opens the 2025 season at Ohio State, the NCAA's defending champion — this may be the most-anticipated opener in some time at Texas.
"It feels good," Manning said of the spring practices thus far. "We've got a good team, a bunch of good guys. I'm excited to start taking some more (first-string) reps."
Follow the American-Statesman on Facebook and X for more. Your subscription makes work like this possible. Access all of our best content with this tremendous offer.
You must be registered for see images attach
This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Arch Manning ready to become Texas football's starting QB
Continue reading...
