The Manning name has long provided moments of brilliance in the footballing world. First, Archie Manning did it, then his sons Peyton Manning and Eli Manning, and now is the chance for their next-generation Arch Manning to prove his pedigree. However, even before any of that happens, a player needs to have the correct mentality, the hunger to learn from the best around you, and most of all, the guidance. So, the question now is: Does Arch Manning have what it takes?
Well, we haven’t really seen Manning’s best yet in college football, but that is not his own fault. He was never a QB1 in his first two seasons at Texas, and that meant sitting on the bench for most of the time. We finally saw him feature in 2 games as a starter when Longhorns’ QB1 Quinn Ewers was out injured.
His debut game against the Warhawks saw him leading the offense in a 51-3 win, although he didn’t think much of it. When asked about the assessment of his performance, he said, “Probably a C-plus, but a win’s a win.” That’s legacy and mentality for you right there. Even in the limited appearances he made in the 2024 season, he managed to garner a 67.8% pass completion rate for almost 1000 yards. Furthermore, his humility and willingness to learn will act as a major catalyst in his success in going forward, and here’s why.
Former Longhorns defensive back Jahdae Barron, who is appearing in the NFL combine, was asked by the media about Arch Manning, and we have a story about our potential 2025 Heisman winner. “I never even told this story. I think the second week, he was there, he was a freshman. Yeah, as a freshman, he’s like two lockers down for me. He acts to take my [clothes] to the laundry. I told him, like, aren’t you good? You don’t have to do it, but he just wanted to do it. He wanted to show me that he wasn’t better than anybody, that he was still part of his team, and he was a freshman, and I told him he didn’t have to do that, and I told him to appreciate that… The sky is the limit for that kid; he’s the most humble kid I’ve ever been around.”
Imagine having the Manning legacy but still also possessing the humility that made each of the previous Mannings great. Whether it was Peyton or Eli- the tantrums were never attached to the Manning name. And that seems to be continuing with Arch as well. The player is making friends wherever he is going; for example, one of his other teammates thinks Arch Manning has got all the ingredients to succeed at the highest level.
Oct 19, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian and corner back Jahdae Barron (7) react after a pass interference call in the third quarter against the Georgia Bulldogs at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Patzke-Imagn Images
Gunnar Helm, the Longhorns tight end who has departed for the draft, thinks the hype around Arch Manning is fully justified. “To be honest with you, I think he’s going to live up to the hype, absolutely…He’s one of my good buddies off the field. Just coming with what he’s (gone) through – his whole life has been football. When he really has a chance to open up off the field, I think he turns a lot of people’s heads. He’s not what a lot of people expect him to be.”
Manning is undoubtedly very hyped in media, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t merit all the praise, and here’s why.
Future of Arch Manning with Texas Longhorns
Quinn Ewers has declared for the NFL draft and will showcase his abilities at the NFL Combine. That only means one thing: the QB1 spot is for Arch Manning to take. Coach Steve Sarkisian certainly thinks the guy is ready to take the next big step in his career.
“It would be pretty tough for me to say he’s probably not going to be our starting quarterback. He started for us a couple of games last year and played really good football. Our first game in the SEC against Mississippi State, he was our starting quarterback. Quinn had been nicked up. I think the exposure that he’s had, I think he’s ready for it”. Arch Manning led the team to a 35-13 win against Mississippi State. He passed for 325 yards at an average of 10.5 yards and had a QB rating of around 80. That is quite a good start for Manning, right?
Anyone doubting Manning’s abilities should think of the words he said for his team and his love for the Longhorns. “Playing for Texas was always the goal. There’s something about this place. This city, the 40 acres, we’ve got a lot of fight in us, and you can feel it everywhere and in everything we do.” Arch Manning loves Texas, and Texas also loves him back. Now it is to be seen if this can be the love story that culminates with the natty trophy in the players’ hands or not in 2025.
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