Steve Sarkisian sets stage for quarterback battle at Texas on first day of spring practice

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The quarterback battle in Austin, Texas, is going to be a long one. 

Following the first practice of the spring for the Texas Longhorns, head coach Steve Sarkisian discussed his two young quarterbacks – both big-time recruits – and set the stage for a quarterback competition for months to come. 

Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian sings "The Eyes of Texas" after the Valero Alamo Bowl game against the Washington Huskies at Alamodome on Dec. 29, 2022 in San Antonio. (Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Longhorns are returning sophomore Quinn Ewers, while freshmen Arch Manning – the most-hyped recruit of the class – kicks off his college career. 

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"I'm not worried about who's going to be on the cover of what magazine next week," Steve Sarkisian said, according to ESPN. "I'm more focused on is, is each guy focusing on what they need to do to develop to be the best player that they can be? Quinn has an entire year of a head start, but I don't want to hold Arch back. I want to see how far he can take this thing and what it can look like."

Manning chose Texas in June after being one of the more hyped quarterback recruits in recent memory. 

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The son of Cooper Manning, brother to NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning, Arch is expected to turn around a Texas program that has reached double-digit wins just once in 13 years. 

Arch Manning attends the game between the Los Angeles Rams and New Orleans Saints at Caesars Superdome on Nov. 20, 2022 in New Orleans. (Sean Gardner/Getty Images)

However, Ewers