Arch Manning turned heads during Texas’ annual spring game, showcasing his skills as a promising second-year quarterback.
He kicked off his performance with a dazzling 75-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore and maintained a perfect streak by completing his first 10 passes, ending the day with 355 yards and three touchdowns in Austin.
However, Manning was not the only Longhorns quarterback who shone in the Orange and White game. Trey Owens also put on a strong display, completing 14 of 21 passes for 228 yards and matching Manning’s three touchdowns.
Despite the impressive performances from Manning and Owens, they both remain behind Quinn Ewers, the starting quarterback who led Texas to the College Football Playoff last season.
Ewers commended his teammates for their progress, stating after the game, “They both did a great job of showcasing how much they’ve both grown throughout this whole entire spring. It was fun to watch.”
Manning, who entered Texas as last year’s top recruit and a nephew to NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, had limited game experience prior to Saturday. His prior playing time consisted of a few snaps in a blowout 57-7 win over Texas Tech last November.
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian expressed his satisfaction with Manning’s performance and the opportunity to get him more involved. “I wanted Arch to be able to just go play football,” Sarkisian remarked, as reported by ESPN’s Dave Wilson. “He hadn’t really played in a year… When he keeps his eyes up and steps up in the pocket, he can deliver those balls down the field the way we like to play. It was good to see, and it’s good to see some of the guys around him play with him the way that they did.”
While Manning continues to excite fans and build anticipation for his future role, he is expected to continue developing under Ewers’ leadership for the time being.
