Horns’ Manning to get 1st start as Ewers recuperates

Dave Wilson, ESPN Staff WriterSep 19, 2024, 01:33 PM ET

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Dave Wilson is a college football press reporter. He previously operated at The Dallas Early Morning News, San Diego Union-Tribune and Las Vegas Sun.With Quinn Ewers still recuperating from an oblique injury, Arch Manning will make his first start for No. 1 Texas on Saturday night versus UL Monroe, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.”Quinn has actually made excellent strides since Saturday night into

where he’s gotten to,”Sarkisian said.”But my choice is I’m anticipating his future as a player, however likewise the future of the season for us. … And getting him potentially another week healthier for the long term, I think, is good for us as we’re preparing yourself for SEC play.”The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Manning, the leading possibility in the Class of 2023, has appeared in 4 games for Texas but had his breakout last week in a 56-7 win over UTSA after Ewers was injured.Editor’s Picks 2 Related Manning, who went into in the 2nd quarter, represented five goals. His 75-yard touchdown

pass to Ryan Wingo and his 67-yard touchdown run– the longest ever by a UT freshman– marked the very first time in school history that a player taped a run and throw of a minimum of 65 lawns in the same game. Just Colt McCoy and Vince Young had actually done it in the same season for Texas.Sarkisian said Manning constantly prepares as if he could begin, but it’ll be various running the strategy from the opening series instead of simply being tossed into the fire.

“Arch is more than capable, as I believe all of us understand, “Sarkisian stated.”I indicate, you head out and you have 5 goals being available in off the bench, you have actually currently shown you can play.

Now, it’s about performing the strategy, doing it with self-confidence and fixing a few of the issues on the field when they occur.”Sarkisian said Ewers will be there to help Manning with any of those concerns.”Quinn will undoubtedly have an earpiece in. He’ll hear every play call,” Sarkisian said.”Without question, his support of Arch is important, and I don’t visualize anything different than that.

“”All the goals [Ewers] had which we have actually had for him entering into this season are all still there for him. I think we have a national championship-caliber group, and he’s the quarterback of that group. And I believe we still have that in front of us to go do that. … This guy’s going to remain in New York for the Heisman … and I think he has the ability to be a top-five NFL draft pick.”Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said he impressed upon Ewers that resting a week does not alter anything. The Longhorns play their first SEC game on Sept. 28 against Mississippi State. After a bye week, they have back-to-back games versus No. 15 Oklahoma in Dallas and No. 2 Georgia in Austin.Ewers is finishing 73.4%of his passes this season, tossing for 691 backyards and eight touchdowns, with 2 interceptions.”All the goals he had and that we’ve had for him entering into this season are all still there for him,”Sarkisian stated.”I believe we have a national championship-caliber group, and he’s the quarterback of

that team. And I think we still have that in front of us to go do that.”I believe with some of the games that

we have showing up down the roadway, this guy’s going to be in New york city for the Heisman. And whether he wins it or not, he has the ability to do that, and I believe he has the ability to be a top-five NFL draft choice.”ULM’s defensive organizer, Earnest Hill, raised eyebrows Wednesday when he referred

to his team’s familiarity with Manning, a New Orleans local who attended Isidore Newman for high school.” We really have some kids on our group who played against him in New Orleans, and a couple guys done beat him already,”Hill stated. “So they don’t hold too much fear versus him. They’re not going to hold any fear against him showing up here.”The Longhorns are 44.5-point favorites for Saturday’s game, according to ESPN BET.