The Texas Longhorns may very well have a 2025 first round pick in starting quarterback Quinn Ewers, but calls for redshirt freshman Arch Manning to replace him will only grow louder after the latter's scintillating performance in Saturday's blowout win at home over UTSA.
Ewers himself was brilliant in guiding Texas to an early 14-0 lead, completing 14 of 16 passes for 185 yards and both scores. He went down with what head coach Steve Sarkisian later characterized as a strained abdomen in the second quarter, however, making this the third consecutive season in which he's missed time due to an injury.
[Related: Whether with Ewers or Manning, it's full speed ahead for Texas ]
Once Ewers left, Manning, the former five-star recruit from the legendary family of quarterbacks, came on and threw with the precision that typified the Hall of Fame careers of his uncles Peyton and Eli, connecting on four touchdown passes on just nine completions.
It was the athleticism demonstrated by the prototypically-built 6-foot-4, 225-pounder that might have surprised some onlookers, however.
Manning's first throw — a 19-yard touchdown toss to wideout DeAndre Moore Jr. — came off a beautifully executed bootleg. On his next drive, he scampered for a 67-yard score off of a quarterback keeper — of all things! — following his blocks and evading a hard-charging safety in traffic before pulling away from defenders as he broke into the open field.
It was the type of acceleration scouts have grown accustomed to from quarterbacks in this era of dual-threats at the position, but not from a Manning.
Former Heisman Trophy winner Robert Griffin III certainly was impressed with Manning's athleticism.
Frankly, it was more reminiscent of his
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Steve Sarkisian
Trevor Lawrence
Robert Griffin III (Iii)
Quinn Ewers