Arch Manning, the crown prince of quarterbacking and heir to football royalty, is finally ready to melt faces. He gets to be the starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns! As the grandson of legendary quarterback Archie Manning, Arch Manning has big shoes to fill. He’s now tasked with honoring his family legacy while establishing his own identity on the collegiate gridiron. Manning is now working from a redshirt season in 2023. He is now setting himself up for a huge 2024 season that could make him one of the country’s most coveted quarterbacks.
No season has been a bigger inflection point for Manning. He was a changeup to Quinn Ewers last year, but as of this moment he seems to be the central figure in Texas’s offense. Virtually no other player’s performance will impact the Longhorns’ hopes as much as his. It will probably impact his prospects of coming out for the NFL draft. With an average of 10.0 air yards per attempt last season and a proven ability to make big plays, expectations are high.
The Legacy of Arch Manning
Arch Manning, like his predecessors, carries a pedagogical legacy in tow the nature of being borne out of and into one of the game’s most renowned pedigrees. His grandfather, Archie Manning, forged a stellar career with the New Orleans Saints. His USC uncles, Peyton and Eli, have already established themselves as two of the most prominent figures in football.
And nothing could have prepared the world for the immense pressure — the pressure even those close to him have said — has been grounded amid the swirling hype. An opposing coach remarked, “He’s getting a lot of publicity, but he seems like a pretty level-headed kid,” indicating that Manning is aware of the spotlight but does not appear overwhelmed by it. This perspective is echoed by another SEC coach who stated, “It doesn’t seem like he bought into the hype,” showcasing his focus on performance rather than public perception.
In looking to his legacy in the world of college football, SEC coaches know very well the difficult road that lies ahead for Manning. “You’ve got a ton of respect for the kid, handling what is an insane situation,” one coach said. The feeling is that even though the pressures will be intense, Manning has the skill set to thrive.
Performance Insights from Last Season
Even behind center as a reserve QB, Arch showed some serious flashes that have helped create a lot of hype heading into this season. He went 26 for 31 passes, for a ridiculous 325 yards. He completed two touchdown passes while throwing no interceptions, guiding his team to a resounding 35-13 win over Mississippi State. On top of all that, he flexed his versatility too, tacking on a rushing touchdown in that game.
Manning proved just how adept he was at getting chunk plays down the field last season. He went 15 of 61 on passes thrown over 20 yards. He ended the season with three touchdowns on deep shots. His average of 4.3 yards per carry and ability to evade defenders were proven during his 67-yard run against UTSA and runs of 26 and 21 yards against Mississippi State and Georgia.
As SEC defensive coordinators consider his upside, they see what makes him special and the places he needs to improve. Another judge said, “When the quarterback makes every throw, that’s the separator. When he can take the ball and run it, he’s usually pretty special.”
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