Bruce Feldman analyzes future of Arch Manning, Texas quarterback position
When Arch Manning committed to Texas, Longhorns fans viewed him as the possible quarterback of the future. The idea was Quinn Ewers would go to the NFL Draft, and Manning would spend a year under him and Maalik Murphy to adjust to the college game.
Ewers suffered an injury against Houston and missed last week’s game against BYU as a result. Murphy — who won the backup quarterback job during the spring and fall — got the start in his place, and although Steve Sarkisian hinted Manning might get some looks, the former Five Star Plus+ recruit didn’t play.
When it comes to the future of the quarterback position at Texas, the discussion begins with if Ewers enters the draft considering this year’s group of quarterback has plenty of talent. If that happens, the next conversation is how Murphy fits into the picture if he plays at a high level in Ewers’ absence.
Those points are why The Athletic and FOX Sports’ Bruce Feldman said the spring will be critical to determining Manning’s long-term role with the Longhorns.
“My guess is they will re-evaluate in the spring where he’s at,” Feldman said on The Rich Eisen Show. “The question is, does Quinn Ewers leave? Because he could leave and jump in this deep quarterback class. And then, Maalik Murphy, who they know has talent, but hasn’t played a lot — he didn’t play a lot in high school — will he be able to show enough? I think that’s the quarterback battle next spring if Ewers leaves.”
Bruce Feldman looks at how the Manning family might feel about Arch’s situation at Texas
Eisen then asked how the Manning family feels about the situation. One of the most powerful families in football — if not, the most powerful — he wonders what the Mannings think about Arch possibly sitting lower on the depth chart once again.
Especially if a return is in the cards for Ewers with so many talented quarterbacks in this draft, Feldman theorized they knew it’d be a possibility.
“I think they had to know that situation going in,” he said. “I mean, I don’t think it was a surprise. Quinn Ewers was considered by a lot of people in the recruiting world as the highest-rated. … What, did they think Ewers was going to bounce after one year? They knew Caleb [Williams] and Drake Maye were probably going to be at the top of this draft.”
That said, the key part of the conversation is Sarkisian. Feldman said the family has “bought in” to Sarkisian’s coaching style when it comes to preparing quarterbacks for the next level, and it was a factor in Manning’s commitment in the first place.
While the transfer portal could be an option for Manning — as is the case for anyone in college football — Feldman said he doesn’t see that happening. It’s worth wondering what the upside to transferring would be, though, especially as Texas prepares to jump to the SEC.
“I think the question is if you’re [the Mannings], and they’ve clearly bought in to Steve Sarkisian as the quarterback developer in that system, do you just jump because you’re getting itchy to get on the field?” Feldman said. “Like, what are the better alternatives? I think what would be interesting here is obviously, with the portal, you can make a move.
“The question is, he’s probably going to be unproven as a college player — and again, I’ve heard nothing that says he’s looking to bolt if he’s not the guy in 2024 when they make the move to the SEC.”