Arch Manning's famous last name is both a blessing and a curse.
The Texas quarterback has received plenty of attention — not to mention countless resources and opportunities — on account of who he is, and more specifically, who he is related to.
Yet that also has marked him for attention. Legions of eyeballs follow his every move, hoping to bear witness to the next great quarterback.
Many assumed the top recruit in this year's class would be stepping into a starting role out the jump once he got on campus. And yet there Manning stands, fixed to the sideline, clipboard in one hand, helmet in the other. He's firmly entrenched behind the likes of Quinn Ewers on Texas depth chart. And it's leaving a lot of college football connoisseurs wondering: just why is Arch, widely viewed as one of the best quarterback prospects in recent memory to come out of the high school ranks, tethered to the bench?
Manning saw his first action during Texas' blowout of Texas Tech on Black Friday. He came off the bench in relief of Quinn Ewers late in the third quarter with the Longhorns leading 50-7. Manning was 2-for-5 for 30 yards on two drives, the first of which ended with a failed fourth down and the other a Texas rushing touchdown. He also had seven rushing yards.
On the scoring drive, Manning was 2-for-3 for 30 yards.
He threw two short passes on his initial drive, both incomplete in the end zone. Earlier on the drive, he scrambled for five yards on one play and ran for 12 on another. He also was credited with a 10-yard loss when he fumbled a shotgun snap and recovered it.
Here's what you need to know about Texas' QB depth chart in 2023.
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Why is Arch Manning not starting?
Despite being named the No. 1 recruit in the country by various outlets, Manning's decision to attend Texas was a curious one. Namely because the Longhorns had about as loaded a quarterback room as there is in the country.
Manning joined a unit already teeming with talent; Quinn Ewers was the No. 1 recruit in the country back in 2021 and arrived to Austin with heaps of fanfare, with many believing he had the makings of a potential first-overall pick in the future.
It took Ewers a year, but he found his rhythm under center in 2023, throwing for 3,161 yards and 21 touchdowns for the Big 12-winning Longhorns.
Ewers' skillset, coupled with Manning's brimming potential, has already led to changes in the quarterback room. Maalik Murphy — a hulking gunslinger who entered 2022 as Ewers' backup — opted to transfer to Duke rather than stay in Austin. As such, Manning slotted right into Murphy's stead as a backup.
He's got some way to go to supplant Ewers, however.
Texas QB depth chart
| Rank | Player |
|---|---|
| 1 | Quinn Ewers |
| 2 | Arch Manning |
1. Quinn Ewers
Ewers' stock has faltered over the course of his young career, mostly due to less-than-stellar performance during his maiden year with the Longhorns. Still, the 6'2, 195-pounder has plenty of admirers around the college game, including — it seems — Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian.
Ewers completed 58.1 percent of his passes in 2022, tossing 15 touchdowns to six interceptions. It was an underwhelming year given the 'Horns quarterback's high school reputation.
He's looked far more assured since returning to Austin in 2023. Texas' unquestioned starter has shone for the 12-1 Longhorns in 2023, pouring in 26 scores (21 throwing, five rushing) to just six interceptions for Steve Sarkisian's side.
With the Longhorns rolling near the top of the college football polls, Sarkisian hds little reason to displace his No. 1. So he didn't, handing Ewers the reins for the entirety of the campaign.
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2. Arch Manning
Manning very well could be the most talented of the two options. The teenager has been tipped for greatness since he was in his tots and has almost everything one could look for in a new-age quarterback. He's big — possessing a 6'4, 245-pound frame. He's lively, blessed with a cannon and the brain power to match. He reads the game well and tends to show composure even when flushed with pressure.
Frankly, Manning has elite potential. But potential isn't the present. And although Manning projects as a future star, he still hasn't surpassed Ewers. At least not yet.
Did Arch Manning redshirt?
Given the depth surrounding the position, many expected Manning to redshirt during his freshman year. That still seems to be the plan, all things considered.
Manning was on the cusp of getting a call-up to the bigs on Saturday, according to Sarkisian. However, college football's new clock rules — which stipulate that the clock continue to run after first downs, just like in the pros — left precious little time for Manning to check into the game. As such, he opted against "wasting" one of the four games Manning can participate in while retaining his ability to redshirt.
Why did Arch Manning go to Texas?
Manning's decision to attend Texas more or less boiled down to one thing, per Manning's grandfather, Archie: his desire to play under Sarkisian.
"I think he did his due diligence, I think he took a great look at a lot of schools," Archie Manning said. "I know he made four visits to Texas, four visits to Georgia, four visits to Alabama, I know he had a hard time telling coach Saban and coach Smart no, but he made his choice and he wanted to play for coach Sark.”
Sarkisian has developed a reputation as a quarterback guru over the years, playing a pivotal role in the development of such hurling luminaries as Matt Leinart, Jake Locker and Mac Jones. It seems the younger Manning wanted in on the action.