Arch Manning will be the face of the Texas Longhorns in the upcoming 2025 NCAAF season, following Quinn Ewers’ well-known departure to the NFL. Many are betting on a great campaign with Manning at the helm, and none other than his coach, Steve Sarkisian, expressed excitement not only for his immense talent but also for the progress he has made in recent months within the program.
These are crucial times for both the NFL and College Football, as the Combine is currently underway, with many prospects trying to impress franchises to secure a spot in the upcoming draft. Sarkisian was one of Quinn Ewers’ mentors over the years, and he knows that the fact both quarterbacks have worked alongside each other recently will help Manning become an even better player.
“I’m excited for Arch,” the Longhorns‘ HC said via the NFL Network. “I feel like his progression has been perfect. A chance for a couple years to be with Quinn and to A, learn who we are systematically. But B, just to watch how Quinn has handled things. Quinn’s journey was not the smoothest, right? There was injuries and how he responded to those. At Texas, if you don’t go 30-for-30 with five touchdowns, everyone’s going to point to the one or two incompletions and all that stuff. But how Quinn handled it, I think, was good for Arch.”
Steve Sarkisian also expressed his excitement about what Manning can bring to the team as the starting QB. During his time as a backup, the player has thrown for 969 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions. Additionally, he has carried the ball 28 times for 108 yards and four scores.
“We’re watching him in winter workouts and offseason stuff really becoming the leader of the team, like the quarterback has to be,” Sarkisian added. “And he has such a great personality that I think his teammates really respond to him, the coaches have started to respond to him. So I think things are off to a really good start for him.”
Sarkisian highlighted Manning’s maturity
One of the biggest aspects Arch Manning has developed recently within the program is his maturity in approaching the game. At least, that’s what his head coach, Steve Sarkisian, emphasizes, who made a major admission about the QB.
“You always see guys mature, right? We get them when they’re 17, 18-years old, and then, you know, as they grow in the program, and you start to see them, not only physically mature, but mentally mature. It’s no different. This guy has really grown up in our program,” Sarkisian said via SportsCenter. “You know, he was the guy that was so fired up, every gameday, he showed up.
“But I think he saw the value of learning, and kind of taking heed to what Quinn was going through, ‘Okay, how would I handle those situations?’ And so, I think we’re getting a guy that might be a first-year starter, but yet, kind of has the experience of what it’s going to feel like to handle some of those situations as they come up.”