Manning embracing starting role at Texas: 'Worth the wait'
Quarterback Arch Manning is ready to embrace his new role as Texas' starter after patiently biding his time over the past two seasons amid speculation of a possible transfer.
"It was tough. It's tough in this age. I hope it pays off," Manning said Thursday, according to Inside Texas. "There's nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I have friends here. I love this place."
"Sometimes, it's worth the wait," Manning added.
The 19-year-old sat behind Quinn Ewers through his first two seasons with the Longhorns. Manning displayed flashes of potential in 2024 after taking a redshirt his freshman year. He stepped in when Ewers left the game against UTSA with an oblique injury and then started the next two contests.
Arch, nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, finished the season throwing for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions while completing 67.8% of his attempts. He also displayed his ability as a dual threat by rushing for four scores.
The path is clear for Manning with Ewers off to the NFL. The redshirt sophomore credited his predecessor for his patience over the past couple seasons.
"He's just been so good to me over the years, it's probably pretty annoying having me as a backup, just with all the media stuff," Manning said, according to On3's Alex Byington.
Ewers described Manning in February as a "great player" after sharing the QB room with him.
"I think he's ready for any moment that arises because he sat and saw how I did it, and then obviously he's going to have his ways that he's going to want to do it," Ewers said of his successor, per ESPN's Todd Archer.
Head coach Steve Sarkisian is handing the keys to the offense over to Manning as the signal-caller enters his third spring with the program. Texas has clinched a spot in the College Football Playoff in each of the past two years.
The Longhorns will kick off their season Aug. 30 against reigning national champion Ohio State.