How much will Arch Manning, college football’s most famous backup QB, play for Texas in 2024?

In the latest episode of ‘Fansville’, Deputy Quinn Ewers is urged to call for reinforcements, but resists. After a brief conversation with his fellow officer, Texas’ third-year starting quarterback delivers the punchline.

“We don’t need any backup, even if he has beautiful hair and famous relatives,” Ewers said.

The allusion to Arch Manning is both a funny moment and clever copy in Ewers’ national Dr Pepper commercial. But it also points to the unique dynamics in Texas. Ewers, the former No. 1 recruit in America, is one of the best-known names in the sport, a Heisman Trophy candidate who took the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff last year.

Yet Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and son of Cooper, still looms large, at least figuratively, because of those famous relatives and Arch’s lofty recruiting status (he was also the No. 1 recruit in his class) . ). That Arch has appeared in two games and attempted just five passes in his Longhorns career, yet still gets a wink and a nod in the starting quarterback’s ad underlines the intrigue surrounding him.

But 19 months into his college career, we’ve only seen 27 game snaps of Arch, which only adds to the fascination (fans love the backup quarterback, right?). How much will we see of the redshirt freshmen in 2024?

Manning remains patient

One of the first questions casual observers ask about Manning is whether he has considered a move since he hasn’t started yet. So far, Manning has given no indication that this is in the offing.

You may wonder, because transfer quarterbacks have become the norm. Of the 68 power conference teams, 43 are expected to transfer this season, according to Yahoo Sportsa rate of 63 percent.

But when asked before the Sugar Bowl in December if he was considering making a move while practicing most of the season third on the depth chart, Manning said no.

“I haven’t looked at a transfer at all,” he said at the time. “I’m just focused on developing and helping this team in any way I can. And hopefully one day I’ll play for the University of Texas like I’ve always wanted.”

This summer at the Manning Passing Academy, he reiterated his desire to stay in Austin while acknowledging the difficulty of staying patient.

“It’s hard because you want to play with your guys,” Manning said in July. “But (it came down to) realizing that I don’t want to be anywhere else, and that my dream was to play in Texas. I’m going to stick with it and eventually play there.”

GO DEEPER

Arch Manning and other QBs explain the decision to transfer or stay

Manning and his family put a lot of time and care into the recruiting process. Arch already knew in Texas what he was getting into with Ewers. The opportunity to develop under Texas coach Steve Sarkisian, who has a long track record of coaching successful quarterbacks, was important to Manning.

Sarkisian’s students include former USC quarterbacks Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez, former Washington quarterback Jake Locker and former Alabama quarterbacks Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.

“Part of your recruiting is your track record,” Sarkisian said at SEC media days. “We’ve been fortunate to coach some pretty good quarterbacks. We have been fortunate to be able to do this for decades. We’ve been fortunate to have some really good quarterback rooms, and I think the Manning family is pretty aware of that.

“I think they trained Arch to try to put himself in the best position to play in the best conference in America and ultimately put himself in the best position to continue his career in the National Football League.”

Because of that plan, Sarkisian doesn’t think Manning’s decision to wait was too difficult.

“I think Arch’s development has been important to the family, and he’s reaping the benefits,” Sarkisian said. “It hasn’t been that difficult at all. I think it was pretty easy for him.”

In Texas’ spring game, Arch Manning completed 19 of 25 passes for 355 yards and three touchdowns. (Sara Diggins/USA Today)

Ewers is entrenched as the starter

As we enter 2024, there is no doubt who QB1 is in Texas, and there shouldn’t be. Ewers, who bypassed the NFL Draft to return for another season, took big steps forward in 2023. He improved significantly in most major statistical categories, including completion percentage (58.1 to 69 percent), passing yards (2,177 to 3,479), touchdowns (15 to 22), yards per attempt (7.4 to 8.8) and passer rating (132.6 to 158.6). He also became more consistent.

This year he’s starting to look like a leader. Sarkisian said in July that while his physical development and progress have been great, he was more excited about Ewers’ personal and emotional development.

“That has built a lot of confidence in everyone in our building,” Sarkisian said. “He walks into that building like he’s the starting quarterback at the University of Texas for a top-five football team, and I think that has filtered into our locker room. …

“Now do I want more touchdowns, fewer interceptions, a higher completion percentage? Naturally. But I think those things are a byproduct of his preparation, a byproduct of the confidence he exudes and the way he goes to work.”

History says the Longhorns will need Arch one day

In each of Sarkisian’s three seasons, he had to turn to his backup quarterback. In 2021, he drafted Hudson Card for Casey Thompson two weeks into the season, but ultimately needed both due to injuries.

In 2022, Ewers missed three games due to injury and two more last year. With this season potentially longer due to the 12-team Playoff, it stands to reason that the Longhorns will have to turn to Manning at some point.

“I’m very comfortable with Arch coming into the competition and operating at a high level,” Sarkisian said Thursday.

There is excitement surrounding Manning’s development

Last season was a learning experience for Manning. After starting his entire high school career, being on the bench as a QB3 was a challenge, especially in his first few months on campus.

“There were a lot of hard days. I’m not going to lie,” Manning said in December. “I was never a backup in high school. There are days when you graduate early, you’re alone in your dorm room and you think, “It’s another day where you have to fight for the third job.”

In his first spring game, things clearly moved quickly for Manning. By the time he made his college debut against Texas Tech, flashes of his athleticism and arm talent were present. But there were still some freshman jitters when he dropped a shotgun snap.

This spring it showed significant growth. Manning dazzled in the Orange-White game, looking comfortable, confident and in control as he threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns. He was accurate with four of his seven incompletions hitting a receiver’s hands.

With Texas’ 2023 backup Maalik Murphy transferring to Duke, Manning is the clear No. 2 quarterback. Sarkisian said that as the Longhorns begin the 2024 season, Manning has taken a big step forward in his development.

“I would probably say he’s light years ahead of where he was this time last year,” Sarkisian said Thursday. “His understanding of what we’re trying to do offensively, the nuances of the plan, the timing of certain throws, the protections, all those things. And I just think his overall comfort level and confidence is much higher than it was a year ago at this point.

On Monday, Sarkisian said he wants to play with a lot of players early in the season as Texas develops depth for a season expected to extend into mid-January. “When you’re in the two-deep, you play in the first half,” Sarkisian said.

Does this mean Manning will play in the first half against Colorado State on Saturday?

“We’ll find out,” Sarkisian said.

(Photo: Tim Warner/Getty Images)