With a fantastic breakout game, Arch Manning demonstrated his ability to carry on his family’s tradition.
The Texas Longhorns quarterback comes from a long line of successful quarterbacks, including two Super Bowl-winning uncles, Eli and Peyton.
Manning scored five touchdowns in a blowout win.
Starter Quinn Ewers, a possible first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, left the 56-7 win over the UTSA Roadrunners early due to injury.
Manning, 19, made an impressive debut, completing nine of 12 passes for 223 yards and four touchdowns.
However, another facet of his game demonstrated that he might light up the NFL in ways his uncles could never have imagined.
Peyton and Eli were both pocket passers, as was grandfather Archie, who played for the New Orleans Saints, Houston Oilers, and Minnesota Vikings but preferred to sit back and throw darts.
However, Arch astounded fans by demonstrating his underappreciated rushing abilities with an astounding 67-yard dash for a touchdown.
He reached 20.7 mph, which is quicker than Miami Dolphins speedster Tyreek Hill has accomplished in a game this season.
“Mannings aren’t supposed to move like this,” NFL insider Adam Schefter told X.
ARCH MANNING TAKES IT A CAREER LONG 67 YARDS TO THE HOUSE 😱
(via @TexasFootball)
pic.twitter.com/Critoviw3Y— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 15, 2024
Arch’s grandfather, Archie, was a two-time Pro Bowl quarterback, and his father, Cooper, played wide receiver in college before an accident interrupted his dreams.
The buzz around the prospect has left Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian torn about whether to bench Ewers, 21, when he is completely fit.
Manning will start Saturday’s game against the Louisiana-Monroe Warthogs.
“Quinn has made great strides ever since Saturday night into where he’s gotten to,” according to Sarkisian.
“But my choice is that I’m looking forward to both his future as a player and the future of the season for us.
“And getting him possibly one more week healthier for the long term is good for us as we’re getting ready for SEC play.”
The Longhorns will play their next ranked opponent, the Oklahoma Sooners, on Saturday, October 12.
And Sarkisian has seen enough of Manning to be optimistic about his potential.
“There were some learning curves in there, a couple things to learn from, but at the end of the day, I thought he played at a high level,” he told me.
Despite their lineage, Mannings have never won the Heisman Trophy.
But NFL expert Paul Finebaum believes this is going to change.
“Book it. “Arch Manning is going to win the Heisman Trophy,” he told ESPN.
“I’m in on that. His grandfather and Peyton definitely should have won, and Arch will.
“I don’t know if he’ll win it this year, but Arch Manning will definitely win the Heisman at Texas.”
