Arch Manning throws for over 300 yards, three touchdowns in Texas spring game
Arch Manning looked like the superstar many hope he can become in the Texas spring game on Saturday. The Longhorns quarterback played out of his mind to finish 19-of-25 passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns.
Manning stepped in for Quinn Ewers on the White team after the Orange team took an early 14-0 lead. He immediately made an impact to find DeAndre Moore Jr. for a 75-yard touchdown on his very first play.
The fireworks didn’t stop there as Manning led the White team on another march down the field on the next drive. Although there wasn’t a long bomb this time, Manning still managed to find Jaydon Blue over the middle for his second touchdown of the afternoon to tie things up at 14. The QB went 5-for-5 to start the day before throwing his first incompletion.
The Orange team answered with a touchdown of their own and led 21-17 at halftime after the White team kicked a field goal before the break. A touchdown from CJ Baxter to open the half would give the White team its first lead of the game, and they would later add to it with a field goal to make it 27-21.
After another touchdown from the Orange team to retake the lead, Manning got the ball back and once again went to work. He threw his second 75-yard touchdown of the afternoon, this time to Isaiah Bond, to go back up 34-28 with just 3:16 left in the game.
The Orange team managed to score the go-ahead touchdown with 31 seconds left and win the game, but the impressive performance for Manning still was the story of the day. He’s still expected to enter this season as the backup to Ewers, but this provides hope that he is capable of stepping in if an injury were to occur.
Manning, the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, is a former five-star prospect out of Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans. He ranked as the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 cycle according to the On3 Industry Ranking, a weighted average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies.
Arch Manning appeared in just two games as a true freshman to take a redshirt year last season at Texas. He finished the year 2-of-5 for 30 yards. However, given the way he played in the spring game, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him get more run as he settles in at No. 2 on the depth chart.