The Texas Longhorns are stepping into the Arch Manning era with Quinn Ewers bound for the NFL Draft. When they clash with the Ohio State Buckeyes on Aug. 30, all eyes will be on Manning, who will make his much-hyped debut as QB1.
Despite limited experience—just two starts and under 100 throws—Manning’s colorful lineage and recruitment hype have created a whirlwind of expectation. So, is he the real deal?
JD Pickell Thinks Arch Manning Hype Could Win Texas Championship
In his recent analysis of college football spring practice, JD Pickell highlighted Manning and others. He is confident that the quarterback will live up to expectations and potentially be the game-changer Texas needs to secure a championship.
“I don’t even know if that is possible because we’re being told he should win the Heisman Trophy, and he should be the number one draft pick next year, and all of those things. And if that’s the word out of spring football, I don’t know if I’d believe you necessarily. But if even a version of that is true, Texas is a national championship kind of team.”
Of course, Manning is no stranger to towering expectations. Even before committing to Texas, his legendary football lineage and intense recruitment hype put him on a pedestal.
Manning is already seen as a front-runner for the 2025 Heisman Trophy, and Bleacher Report has predicted he’ll be the best college football player of the next 25 years before the Longhorns’ 2024 season even ends.
As if that weren’t enough, projections already peg him as the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. And not to forget— he has not even taken the field as Texas’ starting quarterback.
KEEP READING: Steve Sarkisian Praises Arch Manning’s Leadership as Texas’ New QB1
With such unprecedented pressure, it raises the ultimate question: Can anyone truly live up to this level of hype? This is primarily because the Longhorns’ fan base is known for its lofty and often unforgiving expectations.
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