Steve Sarkisian: I don't know if any player has gone through what Arch Manning has

With one week remaining in the regular season, Arch Manning has found his footing. However, the Longhorns quarterback had to endure plenty of criticism before emerging on the other side. On Monday, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian praised Manning for his resilience throughout his unusual situation.

“I don’t know if any college player has kind of gone through what he went through before he even was the full-time starter,” Sarkisian said. “Part of that is his last name. Part of it is our brand. I think those two things coming together made this such a big storyline before the season. But, none of it was anything due to what Arch was doing.

“He just kind of kept focusing on what he needed and tried to do. I’m sure there were moments when it was a lot, maybe even overwhelming. But, to his credit, I think, man, the guy showed so much resolve and resiliency and just stick to it-ness, to the task at hand. And, again, it wasn’t a perfect journey to get to this point, but, sometimes, it’s good not to have a perfect journey. Sometimes, taking a road less traveled is good for you.”

Before Manning ever stepped on Texas’ campus, he was the center of a media whirlwind. As the nephew of two NFL legends, Manning had massive expectations thrust on him.

Fans expected the former five-star QB to immediately play like his uncles. And, in his early chances at Texas, he often lived up to expectations. Alas, Manning faced a new challenge this season as the Longhorns’ starter.

He immediately was met with adversity when Texas fell 14-7 to Ohio State in the season-opener. Manning continued to struggle in the following games and some fans were ready to give up on him.

Yet, Sarkisian stuck by Manning and the redshirt sophomore gradually began to come into form. In Texas’ 52-37 win over Arkansas on Saturday, Manning tallied a career-high 389 passing yards and four touchdowns, without throwing an interception.

While Texas isn’t expected to appear in the College Football Playoff this season, Arch Manning is poised to be one of the best QBs in the country next year. Perhaps none of Manning’s success would’ve been possible without the trials he faced earlier this season.

“I really think the experiences Arch had early in the season, and I said this earlier in the year, he was going to benefit from the journey that he had to go on,” Sarkisian said. “He’s better and stronger for it today, and I’m really proud of him.

“He’s not a finished product. He’s still going, he’s still going to improve, he’s still going to get better. But, I’m very proud of him for the way he’s handled so much of what we went through.”