Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers went down with an injury during the first half of their matchup against the University of Texas San Antonio last week. And that all about solidified the beginning of the Arch Manning era for Texas.
Videos by FanBuzz
Fans React to Arch Manning's Hot First Start
Earlier this week, Manning was officially named the starter for Texas after putting up an impressive four-touchdown outing. He made his first official start against the University of Louisiana-Monroe in the first half. And he proved that Texas made the correct decision by starting him.
He threw for two touchdowns in the first half alone. After Manning's hot start, fans reacted on Twitter.
"If I was a #Longhorns fan I would say that Quinn Ewers can stay out as long as he wants. Arch Manning is a stud," one fan wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
"Let me find out Arch Manning going to be the better Manning," another user joked.
Another fan noted that Manning's showing was more impressive than potential first-round pick Shedeur Sanders of Colorado who was playing against Baylor University at the same time.
"OSHEDEUR LMAO DO NOT LET ARCH MANNING A 19 go more crazy than you. Throw some passing TDs," the fan said.
Many fans believe that if Quinn Ewers doesn't return from injury this season and Manning leads them to a national title, that could fast-track his journey to the NFL. But that may not necessarily be what the 19-year-old Arch wants.
Texas QB Being Advised to Be Patient About Entering Draft
Arch comes from football royalty. He is the nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning. And according to ESPN's Pat McAfee, the Manning family would prefer for Arch to stay at Texas and develop.
"One of my source(s) in the Manning family told me this: 'We are old school and you never lose your job from an injury. ... Everybody assumes that Arch is on a fast track to the NFL but that isn't true... He wants to develop and stay in Steve Sarkisian's system,'" McAfee said.
Former Alabama head coach Nick Saban agrees with that stance on Arch's future. Noting that players going into the NFL prematurely ultimately hurts them in the long run.
"You can see in the NFL, some of the guys that are forced to play before they're ready — high draft picks and first-round draft picks — if they're not on a good team, they struggle early on," Saban said. "They lose their confidence, and that affects their ability to perform."
