Is Arch Manning Ready to Take Over at Texas and Then the NFL? His Teammates Think So

INDIANAPOLIS — Arch Manning, the latest star from football’s royal family, is still a year away from facing questions at the NFL Scouting Combine. But his former Texas teammates are already convinced he’s destined for greatness at the highest level.

“I think he can,” wide receiver Matthew Golden said Friday. “He has the heart to do it. Arch comes in each and every day, and he goes to work. He acts like a walk-on. He has a story. He’s trying to make a name for himself.”

Manning’s sophomore year at Texas is shaping up to be pivotal. Last season, the 6-foot-4, 225-pound quarterback stepped in as a redshirt freshman when starter Quinn Ewers was injured. Manning completed the season with 939 passing yards, nine touchdowns, two interceptions, and a 67.8% completion rate. Oh, and did I mention his legs? He rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns, including a jaw-dropping 67-yard sprint against UTSA—the longest by a Texas QB since the legendary Vince Young's 80-yarder in 2005.

“He’s an amazing thrower, but what shocked me the most is that he can run,” said receiver Isaiah Bond. “I wasn’t expecting that at all. Arch has some wheels on him. I’ve just never seen a quarterback run like that before, especially because he’s a big guy, too. To be moving at that speed, he is pretty amazing.”

Here’s a fun fact to impress your friends: In the past 25 years, Manning is the only QB in FBS or the NFL to throw a 75-yard touchdown pass, run for a 65-yard touchdown, and throw another 50-yard scoring pass all in the same game. Yep, that happened against UTSA, and no, he wasn’t even the starter that day. Manning came off the bench for Ewers, completing 9 of 12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns, plus that electrifying 67-yard run, leading Texas to a 56-7 blowout win.

As the top recruit in the nation in 2023, Manning brought immediate competition to Texas, especially for Ewers, the No. 1 recruit in 2021. That rivalry turned out to be mutually beneficial. “It says in the Bible, iron sharpens iron,” Ewers said. “It was good for me and him to get to work together. We’re competing for the same job, but us being pals off the field was good for us as well.”

Despite Manning’s limited starts last season—he played sparingly after his two starts against Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State—his potential was clear. He finished the season with 38 passing yards on 6-of-12 completions and added a rushing touchdown. The Longhorns made it to the College Football Playoff semifinals in their first SEC campaign, setting the stage for Manning to take over as Ewers eyes the NFL.

“He’s gonna be a great player,” Ewers said. “He’s a hard-working kid. He’s got poise and composure, and I think he’s ready for any moment that arises. He watched me, learned from me, and now he’ll add his own style to it.”

Golden echoed the sentiment: “He can spin the ball real well. He can run the ball, too. I feel like there’s nothing Arch can’t do. For his caliber, how young he is, he understands the game at a high level. You can tell when he’s in the game. So, just waiting for him to get the opportunity to start. It’s gonna be good.”

With a family legacy as rich as his—uncle Peyton, uncle Eli, and grandpa Archie were all first-round NFL quarterbacks—Arch Manning isn’t just chasing success. He’s chasing greatness. And if his former teammates are any indication, he’s more than ready to carve his own path.