The Arch Manning era in Texas is clearly taking over. Fans can’t wait to see the future crown jewel take the reins on August 30th against the defending champions and make a huge splash, equivalent to the weight of his last name. Well, the idea looks exciting yet menacing for a kid who has never been in the starting gig with such expectations on his shoulders. Cooper Manning predicted how the early media hype could fire back at his son. Still, the nepotism narrative remains a recurring theme. So, failure is not even an option for the 19-year-old Texas kid. But the reality reaches far beyond shallow perspectives. Being the long-time head coach of the program, Steve Sarkisian knows his guys the best.
Arch Manning had to wait a lot for his turn. He patiently stood behind the prolific signal caller Quinn Ewers for over two years and never complained about missing out on the spotlight. It was kind of a nonchalant process for the third-generation Manning, as he has truly been a burnt orange and white fan since he was a kid. It was never the name, fame, or money that appealed the most to Arch. Rather, it was the essence of his dream coming true that kept him selflessly hooked on this program for so long.
So, it’s more than just carrying a family legacy with him; it’s about pure love and passion for a program, for the sport altogether. Busting the popular myth and claims on Arch, Sarkisian broke silence on the March 19th episode of Off the Edge podcast with Cam Jordan. The coach, who has always chosen Quinn over Arch until he was left with no choice, sees a great talent, a great leader, and even a greater human being in the new Texas QB.
When the host pointed out how unfazed Arch looks about his blueblood status and the legacies of Archie Manning, Eli Manning, and Peyton Manning, Coach Sarkisian seconded with some added exposure. “He’s just a normal guy. Like I always say, if you took the name off the back of his jersey and just let him go live life, he wouldn’t have to change. He would be who he is. He’s a great teammate. He works harder than anybody, like the best guys do.”
Manning’s charismatic personality and other off-field skills make him the nation’s highest-rated college football player, with a $6.6 million NIL valuation per ON3. The latest of his NIL boasting came from a deal with Red Bull. The kid made some great spins in the pre-starter phase last season for Texas during the game against Mississippi State and UL Monroe. But that all comes second to his resume. The first is still how he is as a guy. He is carrying an ethos that any coach would want to have in his locker room. The spirit of the brotherhood team game has been prevalent in his day-to-day interactions.
”He’s supportive. He cares about the little people. He cares about the big-name people. It doesn’t matter to him. It’s who you are as a person, and in the end, I think that’s kind of just his approach to life. So, I don’t think it’s about the money necessarily as it is, ‘hey, I just want to be a really good player. If I can be the quarterback of the team at Texas that wins and brings another national championship back here to him.’ I think that’s way more important than any of the other NIL deals or revenue sharing or any of the other stuff that goes on,” Sarkisian continued.
Steve Sarkisian is clear about the players he wants in his locker room. If you’re a player who doesn’t wait a minute to pose a financial deal in the early recruitment period, Texas is not for you. Straight and simple. From here, Arch fits the Longhorns culture on point. But despite all these factors, can Arch Manning fill in the shoes of Quinn Ewers? That’s still a palpable question.
Quinn Ewers’ one specific quality throws a unique challenge to Arch Manning
Quinn Ewers’ legacy at Texas can in no way be denied. He didn’t have a great season at Texas in the final year of his tenure as injury derailed his momentum. However, that doesn’t mean he was not pivotal in taking the team to new heights. The enduring legacy of No. 3 boasts 9128 passing yards and 68 passing touchdowns.
But it’s not just about the numbers. He showcases clear class and art when he takes the quick, short pass to a menacing running back or tight end. The stadium remains flabbergasted for a while. While some viewed it as a weakness, experts deemed it the pure essence of elite football and posed doubt over the ability of Arch Manning to do the same.
During the March 20th episode of Inside Texas Football, insider Homer broke down the narrative. ”Quinn was so damn good at flinging those check-downs out in the flat with timing and accuracy. Curious if y’all feel like Manning will have the same touch, not on those flat routes. Quinn’s probably one of the best I’ve ever seen, and this sounds like a diss, but he’s one of the best check-down throwers I’ve seen, just like supernatural there. His arm angle, I mean, that some of his nicest throws were to running backs.”
However, regardless of all the doubts and hypes, the two contradicting fans’ narratives, Manning will flourish in his own style and pace at Austin in a few months. The rest is on the time and the stars!
The post Steve Sarkisian Forced to Address Nepotism Claims on Arch Manning as Tough Quinn Ewers Reality Hits Texas QB appeared first on EssentiallySports.
