Arch Manning reacts to Steve Spurrier playing time, 'hype' comments

After Steve Spurrier questioned the “hype” around Arch Manning considering his lack of playing time, the Texas quarterback reacted Tuesday at SEC Media Days. He said his focus remains on improving his game ahead of his first year as the Longhorns’ starter.

Spurrier wondered why Manning didn’t play more at Texas during his first two years with the program considering the hype around him. Quinn Ewers was the Longhorns’ starting quarterback during that time, leading the program to back-to-back College Football Playoff semifinal appearances.

But as the Manning hype train hits full speed, Spurrier wondered why he didn’t play more if he’d live up to the billing. Asked about the comments Tuesday, the former Five Star Plus+ quarterback said he’s keeping his feet on the ground.

“Steve Spurrier’s a great coach,” Manning told a large group of reporters. “Is he in the college hall of fame? … Yeah, yeah. He’s here. I’m just worried about myself right now and just trying to get better each day. That’s that.”

Manning has 12 games under his belt during his two years at Texas, including 10 appearances last year while serving as Ewers’ primary backup. He has 969 career passing yards and nine touchdowns to go with 115 rushing yards and four touchdowns, as well.

Now cemented as Texas’ QB1 this year, Manning is generating buzz as the Heisman Trophy favorite and had a massive crowd of reporters around him at SEC Media Days on Tuesday in Atlanta. But as the noise gets louder, Spurrier wondered why Steve Sarkisian played Ewers so much if Manning is “this good.”

“People picking Texas to win the SEC in football,” Spurrier said in June on his podcast. “They’ve got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman, too. And my question is, if he was this good, how come that they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year?”

Manning is handling the noise well ahead of his redshirt sophomore season at Texas. He’s also keeping things in perspective when it comes to the chatter, pointing out it’s not just about talking the talk. It’s about backing it all up on the field.

“I think you got to walk the walk first,” Manning said. “I think as much as it wasn’t always fun to sit in those two years, I think I got a lot of respect for my teammates, coming out of this from a place of love, not just being a turd.”