Arch Manning draws fan criticism as Quinn Ewers shines at Texas Spring Game

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Making his unofficial debut for the Texas Longhorns, high-profile rookie quarterback Arch Manning struggled in the Orange vs. White spring game on Saturday.

Manning, who played for the Orange team, started as a substitute for Maalik Murphy. While Murphy played well, completing nine of 13 passes for 165 yards and a touchdown, Manning couldn’t find his rhythm, going just 5 of 13 for 30 yards in Orange’s 21-10 loss.

Outgoing starter Quinn Ewers led the way for White, completing 16 of 23 pass attempts for 195 yards and a score.

After a successful high school career with Isidore Newman in New Orleans, Manning was the consensus top recruit of the Class of 2023.

Because of this, expectations were sky-high from the get-go, and some fans and observers were quick to criticize the young signalman despite the spring game being his first taste of college football:

Ewers started his college career at Ohio State in 2021 as the top freshman in his own right, but after not playing as a rookie he transferred to Texas and did some positive things for the Longhorns in his first school season.

From 10 games, Ewers went 6-4 and completed 58.1% of his passes for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions, while rushing for a score.

Ewers looked like a seasoned veteran in his third spring game as a college football player, which included a perfect deep ball to Xavier Worthy, who nearly scored a touchdown:

Most thought the starting battle would be between Ewers and Manning, but based on Saturday’s action, head coach Steve Sarkisian may have another option to consider in Murphy.

The redshirt freshman didn’t see any game action last season, but he has the ideal size and arm strength that teams look for in a quarterback, as evidenced by his 79-yard strike against Johntay Cook:

After his impressive performance, there was some feeling that Murphy might not only be a better quarterback than Manning currently, but might prove to be the better signalman between him, Manning and Ewers in the long run:

Although it was far from a record breaking day for Manning, he still received praise for his arm strength, as well as a nod from the former NFL and Baylor quarterback , Robert Griffin III, for his mobility:

Manning was a great quarterback in high school, but no doubt his family pedigree plays a role in the immense pressure he faces to be great.

His uncles are multi-time Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks in Eli Manning and Pro Football Hall of Famer Peyton Manning, while his grandfather is legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning. .

It was long assumed that Arch would follow in their footsteps in the NFL, but first he will need to have a productive college career.

A poor showing in the spring game wasn’t Manning’s going to make it, but it’s a reminder that things may not come to him as easily as most assume.

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