Arch Manning to make first start at Texas: Star QB stepping in vs. ULM as Quinn Ewers recovers from injury

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian announced Thursday that quarterback Arch Manning will start Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe. Incumbent starter Quinn Ewers, who Sarkisian labeled as “questionable” on Monday, suffered an abdominal injury in a Week 3 win over UTSA. 

Sarkisian was not concerned about Ewers’ long-term future, but the Longhorns will be cautious with SEC play looming in the coming weeks. This will be the first start of Manning’s young career. 

“I don’t think he has to focus on leading right now,” Sarkisian said of what to expect from Manning. “I think he needs to focus on knowing what he’s supposed to do and playing at a high level … But our focus has been on him playing good football, and the leadership stuff will come as it comes.”

Manning excelled in his first real meaningful action, going 9 of 12 passing for 224 yards and four touchdowns while adding a fifth on the ground with a thunderous 67-yard scamper. 

The nephew of legendary quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning signed with Texas in 2023 as the No. 1 player in his class. He was third string for a majority of his freshman season but appeared in two games, including the Big 12 Championship Game against Oklahoma State. 

Chance to increase passing efficiency 

Take a limited sample size for what it’s worth, but Manning has been one of college football’s most efficient passers this season. His 317.8 passing efficiency quite literally leads the FBS (15 passes minimum). His 17.7 yards per attempt leads the SEC. He even has more yards passing (318) than Kentucky’s Brock Vandagriff (313 on 55 attempts) and almost as many as South Carolina starter LaNorris Sellers (393 on 53 pass attempts). 

Though the Warhawks have one of the top scoring defenses in the nation after games…

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Author : Will Backus

Publish date : 2024-09-19 18:32:09

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