While the college football season is many months away, one big quarterback battle has already been settled. Last month, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian announced that Quinn Ewers would remain the starting quarterback for the Longhorns. So, what of Arch Manning? Ewers’ understudy is the next highly-touted prized quarterback in line in the famed football family. The transfer portal is busy… but would he make a move?
His uncle Eli Manning sounds like he’d disagree with a move.
Manning spoke to USA TODAY about what he thinks of his nephew’s situation.
“Obviously, the plan was maybe Ewers would go into the NFL, but he’s there. It’s another year for Arch to mature, learn an offense, get bigger and stronger in the weight room, and always be prepared to play,” Manning said to USA TODAY. “You never know what’s going to happen.”
Manning also offered perspective on how things can be in this situation. Funnily enough, he experienced a similar road to becoming a starter while he was at Ole Miss, too.
“He’s got to be ready. If not, then he gets some playing time here and there, and he’s got three more years of eligibility at a great school, at a great football program on the rise,” Manning said via USA TODAY. “The fact that you can transfer so easily now doesn’t mean you should do it just because you’re not playing right away. A lot of quarterbacks when I was in college; that was always the game plan. You redshirt, you sit a year, you have three years of eligibility. That’s what I did at Ole Miss, and I think (that) helped me.”
More from Manning:
“I know he wants to play. He’s itching to get in there. But being patient, continuing to learn can be very helpful as well.”
The college football world had plenty to say.
About Chris Novak
Chris Novak has been talking and writing about sports ever since he can remember. Previously, Novak wrote for and managed sites in the SB Nation network for nearly a decade from 2013-2022