First and 10: Texas has an Arch Manning problem. Is he the quarterback or Quinn Ewers?

1. The Texas football QB decision

It’s not a matter of if Arch Manning is going to play well. It’s how good it will look if and when he does again.

And how it could change the dynamic of the quarterback position for Texas, which is ranked No. 2 in the US LBM Coaches Poll.

When starter Quinn Ewers left last weekend’s game against Texas-San Antonio with an oblique injury, it opened a door that every red-blooded college football fan wildly ran through. Manning, the No.1 recruit from the 2023 recruiting class with the famous last name, finally got his chance.

Then played like every other Manning in this sport since the 1960s. Like a rock star.

Suddenly, Manning is the only thing that could keep Ewers from the Heisman Trophy. Hyperbole? Probably.

But we’re not that far from Texas coach Steve Sarkisian being forced to make a decision between the two quarterbacks. Ewers is listed as “day to day,” according to Sarkisian, and the injury is, essentially, wait and see. Like all oblique injuries.

These injuries are some of the most difficult to assess and treat. Every injury is different (Sarkisian says Ewers’ injury is an “abdomen strain”), and everyone heals differently.

Now let me reintroduce JT Daniels, the former Georgia quarterback and Heisman Trophy favorite (sound familiar?) who sustained an oblique injury in Week 2 of the 2021 season. Daniels was considered week-to-week with his injury.

He wasn’t cleared to play again until late October, and by that time, a spunky backup named Stetson Bennett took over and eventually won two consecutive national titles.

This, of course, leads us to the Manning Problem.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) breaks away from defenders for a touchdown run during the first half against Texas-San Antonio at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.

2. Oklahoma and Georgia are waiting

Even if Ewers…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/first-10-texas-arch-manning-090422450.html

Author : USA TODAY Sports

Publish date : 2024-09-18 09:04:22

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