Mark Stoops looks back on preseason hype for Arch Manning: 'He didn't ask for any of that'

No player in the country has been talked about more than Texas QB Arch Manning, as he’s been as discussed, whether positively to start or negatively the past month and a half, as much as anyone in recent history in college football. That’s a lot to handle, and Mark Stoops can’t help but sympathize with him.

During his press conference on Monday, going into No. 21 Texas vs. Kentucky on Saturday, Stoops was asked for his thoughts on all the hype and spotlight upon Manning. He says it’s been what it has been for the Longhorns’ quarterback, as it has all happened around him as he himself has just tried to be better player down in Austin.

“Well, I just think, you know – it is what it is,” said Stoops. “I mean, you know, I can’t speak for Arch or, you know, that, but he didn’t ask for any of that. I mean, you know, everything that I could see, and, you know, hearing from him is he’s just a young man putting his head down trying to get better. And, I think a lot of that is unfair and it is what it is.

“You know, he understands that. I don’t need to tell him anything that he hasn’t heard from his famous uncles and fathers and all that. But, you know, he’s just a young man getting better with every rep, and you could see the confidence in him. And, why wouldn’t you be confident? He’s a very good football player.”

Again, the storyline surrounding Manning has been up, down, and everywhere in between from the preseason to now. He was heralded as one of the best players to sport to start, and has since been criticized as his play hadn’t lived up to all of that or his last name over the first five games of the season.

However, Manning is coming off one of his better all-around outings from this past weekend in a 23-6 win over No. 6 Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry. He was 21-27 (77.8%) for 166 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing for 34 yards. It still wasn’t as productive in the total numbers, but it was about as capable as he’s looked over six games and certainly so in his three games against power competition. That’s some of the progression that they’ve been looking for and we’ve been waiting to see, and it has only come with time in what was the eighteenth appearance of his collegiate career and his eighth-ever start for Texas.

Manning didn’t ask to be as hyped as he was, as everyone on the outside did that. That’s only going to continue, though, especially if he keeps playing better and better, like this weekend when he comes to Lexington.