Arch Manning has taken college football by storm.
The Longhorns quarterback has only started two career games for Texas. Despite his inexperience, he’s widely expected to be in the Heisman conversation in 2025 as the starting quarterback in Austin, Texas.
While Manning has only started two career games, he has game experience under his belt. In 2024, when he served as the Longhorns’ backup quarterback behind Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning still saw the field in 10 games, where he had 90 pass attempts and 13 total touchdowns.
The 21-year-old quarterback said that experience will help him in 2025.
“Anytime you can get reps in the game and make an impact to help your team win, it definitely builds your confidence for the following year,” Manning said.
Many players come to college programs around the country and need time to mature. But Manning is far from a “typical” player, and Texas’ head coach Steve Sarkisian believes his maturity will help him succeed with the Longhorns.
“He’s got a very even keel about him, he’s very quick-witted, he’s got a great sense of humor about himself and he’s OK to laugh at himself,” Sarkisian said. “I think that’s a great quality to have.”
While Sarkisian said he understands the coaching staff has to do their part in putting him in a good position to win, he knows Arch Manning already has what it takes.
“He’s a great guy, he’s a great teammate and he has an unbelievable work ethic,” Sarkisian said. If he stays true to himself, that’s gonna help him navigate these waters as they present themselves.”
For Manning, the key to the offseason wasn’t necessarily on the football field. Instead, he wants to become a more vocal leader for his team.
“As much as it wasn’t always easy, those two years I feel like I got a lot of respect from the team,” Manning said. “Now, being more of a vocal leader, they know it’s coming from a place of love and I’m not just being a turd.”
With everything going for him, Sarkisian knows that when adversity strikes during the season, his starting quarterback will battle through.
“He’s prepared for the moment, but now it’s time for him to go do it,” Sarkisian said.
