Since Arch Manning first came onto the national radar as a top high school quarterback and member of one of football’s royal families, he’s been one of the sport’s most-covered players despite limited playing time.
Manning made his first career start for the Texas Longhorns on Saturday, subbing for junior Quinn Ewers, who is out with a strained oblique.
Manning checked all the boxes in the team’s 51-3 win over General Booty and the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks to close nonconference play for the Longhorns. Still, the freshman was very critical of himself after the victory.
“Probably a C-plus, but a win’s a win,” Manning said via ESPN when asked to grade his performance after the game.
The freshman star went 15-for-29 for 258 passing yards and a pair of touchdown passes and interceptions, leaning heavily on running back Jayden Blue, who had 25 carries for 124 yards and three rushing touchdowns on the evening.
When Manning replaced Ewers for the final three quarters of Texas’ Week 3 victory over the UTSA Roadrunners, he had four touchdown passes and a rushing touchdown. Things change when you’re the starter, which head coach Steve Sarkisian pointed out after the game.
“To think he was going to come out and play a perfect game, I don’t think anybody in here thought that. I thought he was going to prepare really well, work really hard, do everything he could to play good football. He was going to have some lessons learned, and I think that’s what tonight was about.”
Texas now shifts its focus to its first-ever SEC game, which will be held on September 28, when the Longhorns host the Mississippi State Bulldogs.
[ESPN]
