Arch Manning, an heir of the prestigious Manning football family, is arguably the most talked-about player in college football currently. Manning is the grandson of Archie Manning, the number two draft pick of 1971 and longtime quarterback of the New Orleans Saints. This fact also makes him the nephew of both Eli and Peyton Manning, who are two-time Super Bowl champions and are colossal media personalities. He has a lot to live up to; he is projected to be the number one draft pick in the NFL and the current front-runner for the Heisman this year. Due to his highly acclaimed Manning name, he faces immense pressure to follow in his family members’ footsteps and create his own identity in the world of football.
Manning is the current starting quarterback of the University of Texas Longhorns. In his freshman year of college, he played in ten games with two starts. During this season, he threw for over 939 passing yards, with nine touchdowns and two interceptions, along with 108 rushing yards and four rushing touchdowns. Coaches were impressed with his ability to read defenses, his strong arm, and team chemistry. They were also struck by his seamless transition from high school to college football, showcasing an impressive ability to adapt to the game’s challenges quickly.
On Aug. 30, Manning and the number one-ranked Longhorns played against the number three-ranked Ohio State Buckeyes. Manning’s stats in the first three quarters of this game were lackluster at best. He had several issues in his game, including accuracy, inconsistencies, mechanical flaws, and struggles scoring at the red zone. Manning was only able to go 9/15 and had only 38 passing yards. He also struggled with pressure from rushing defenders, which led to poor and inaccurate throws. Though Manning’s first few quarters were rough, he started to show glimpses of why he is a current Heisman frontrunner. In the fourth quarter alone, Manning nearly quadrupled his stats. He went 8/15 and threw for 132 yards. Manning had many great plays this quarter, such as throwing a 32-yard reception to his wide receiver Parker Livingstone and a 30-yard touchdown pass to his tight end Jack Endries. In conclusion, even with Manning’s comeback, the Buckeyes defeated the Longhorns 14-7, which caused the number one Longhorns to drop to rank seven in the weekly standings.
As of today, it is too early to decide whether or not Manning is a boom or bust. With his inconsistencies and early struggles, especially against the top-ranked colleges such as Ohio State, raising concerns about his actual skill, it’s important to remember he’s continuing to develop and improve. Manning has shown flashes of why he is so hyped up and Heisman-worthy, such as his fourth-quarter performance against Ohio State. Like many young quarterbacks, Manning’s performance is heavily based on his coaching, training, confidence, and ability to learn from his mistakes. One game shouldn’t define his trajectory. For now, Manning remains a work in progress, with a very high ceiling few players can match.
