Arch Manning is a redshirt freshman for the Texas Longhorns.
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They say everything is bigger in Texas — and that includes the state’s love for the Longhorns football team.
If you are a Texas fan (as this UT grad is), life is pretty good this fall. The Horns are 4-0 after non-conference play — including a shellacking of the defending champs in Ann Arbor — and ranked as the No. 1 team in the country. After a lost decade, Texas is indeed back.
The only hiccup along the way came in the form of an injury to starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. Two weeks ago, the star QB exited the game against UTSA with an oblique injury, and he did not play the following week against UL-Monroe.
If there was a silver lining to the Ewers injury, it allowed highly-touted redshirt freshman Arch Manning to earn his first start and see significant playing time for the first time. Manning held his own against the Warhawks as he went 15 for 29 for 258 yards and two touchdowns.
As luck would have it, the guest for this week’s episode of GOLF’s Subpar was the future star QB’s father, Cooper Manning, who provided some insight on his son’s first collegiate start.
“It was fun to have Arch get some experience,” Cooper Manning said. “He made the most of it. I think he enjoyed playing well. Kind of like any rookie your opening night, you’re going to [have] a few hiccups, but he also made some plays. I think he loved being out there.”
Unlike many highly-touted prospects these days, the younger Manning did not arrive on campus in Austin and immediately seek playing time. Instead, he opted to sit and learn behind an upperclassman and wait for his turn to come.
“I think a big part of why he liked Texas is because they had a great history, they had a new coach coming, a new program feel and knew they had the potential to be great,” Cooper said. “And also, not having to come in and be the guy. He can learn and get better so when your number is called, you’re ready to play and perform well.”
So far, that plan has worked to perfection. And barring any major setbacks, Texas will be set at the QB position for the foreseeable future.
Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com where he spends his days blogging, producing and editing. Prior to joining the team at GOLF, he attended the University of Texas followed by stops with the Texas Golf Association, Team USA, the Green Bay Packers and the PGA Tour. He assists on all things instruction and covers amateur and women’s golf. He can be reached at zephyr_melton@golf.com.
