NFL Report;Arch Manning is leaving Texas Paul Finebaum reveals…
Cooper Manning explains why son Arch Manning chose not to transfer from Texas
Questions began to swirl around five-star quarterback Arch Manning and his future at Texas when teammate Quinn Ewers opted to return to the Longhorns for the 2024 season rather than enter the NFL Draft. Ewers’ decision meant another year as a backup quarterback for Manning, who continues to patiently wait for his opportunity at Texas.
“I think there are a lot of people who are probably questioning why he would stick around, and asking, ‘Why aren’t you moving? Why aren’t you going somewhere else?’ his dad, Cooper Manning, said at the Manning Passing Academy this week. “But the grass is not always greener, you know. When you have children who are happy where they are, you don’t mess with it. That’s as simple as that.”
The younger Manning was the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 recruiting class. He appeared in just two games during his true freshman campaign while redshirting. Manning completed 2 of 5 passes for 30 yards and netted seven yards on three carries in his debut against Texas Tech.
“It’s about the overall happiness and development of your son,” Cooper said. “If he’s happy and enjoying school, enjoying his friends, enjoying his coaches, feels like he’s growing and getting better, then those are checking all the boxes for why you went to the school in the first place.”
Manning flashed his potential during the Texas football spring game, completing 19 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. Although it was just a glorified scrimmage, the strong showing by Manning further added to the anticipation surrounding his eventual first college start — which most likely will not come until 2025.
“I like the situation I’m in,” Arch Manning said. “I like Austin. I like the school. I like the coaching staff. I like the people in the building, and it takes a while to learn everyone’s name and learn the trainer’s names and all the staff, so I didn’t want to have to go somewhere else and have to do that again. Sometimes you got to stay patient and stay ready for your turn. I can’t wait to stay there for more years and win some games.”
Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian made it clear back in February prior to spring practice that there is no open battle for the starting quarterback job in Austin. The experience of Ewers certainly gives him the edge over Manning, the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Eli Manning and Peyton Manning.
Although Manning is expected to be the backup quarterback for the upcoming 2024 season, it is noteworthy that Ewers missed a total of five starts with a shoulder injury the past two years.
If Ewers were to miss games because of injury again this next season, it could move up the anticipated first career college start for Manning.
