Former New York Jets scout Daniel Kelly believes Arch Manning and Texas may win all the big awards in 2025.
Arch Manning’s Film Changes Everything, Per Ex-Jets Scout
The Texas Longhorns are perhaps the most primed team behind center. Quarterback Quinn Ewers was excellent in 2024, and the Miami Dolphins rewarded him with a draft selection. Now, Manning is next for Texas, and many feel he is the best quarterback in the country and that the Longhorns can win the national championship in 2025.
Former Jets scout Daniel Kelly took to X.
When I first started studying Arch Manning, I thought, “he’s got a long ways to go.” But by the time I had studied all of the games he played in, I said to myself, “Texas is going to win the National Championship, he’s going to win the Heisman and declare for the 2026 NFL Draft.” pic.twitter.com/Jc7lbQ99zx
— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) May 7, 2025
We haven’t seen much of Manning, but there were enough glimpses for Kelly and many others to buy into the hype around the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning. In the 2024 season, we only saw him throw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and two interceptions as Ewers led the way. He also threatened with his feet as he rushed for 108 yards and four touchdowns.
It was difficult to evaluate Manning due to his limited time on the field, but his ability to make plays with his legs and passing accuracy on the run really stood out. He is heading into his third season under head coach Steve Sarkisian and will be handed the keys to the offense.
Manning will be surrounded by talented weapons, with Ryan Wingo as one of the top wide receiver freshmen in the country and running back C.J. Baxter returning from a long-term injury.
The Longhorns finished with a 13-3 record and were College Football Playoff semifinalists, losing out to the event National Championship winning Ohio State Buckeyes. OSU will certainly be in the running to retain their title, but they have lost multiple offensive weapons to the NFL Draft.
Penn State, Notre Dame, Oregon, Georgia, and many others will be in contention for the National Championship. Texas, as a whole, has an incredibly talented roster on both sides of the ball.
KEEP READING: 2026 NFL Draft: Will QB Arch Manning’s Draft Stock Be Tied to Texas’ Championship Run?
Manning is the early favorite for the Heisman Award, but there will be some stern competition. LSU Tigers quarterback Garrett Nussemeier is going into his second season as a starter and will be right up there with Manning. Cade Klubnik of Clemson is regarded by some as the best Quarterback this year, while Buckeyes wide receiver Jeremiah Smith returns as the premier weapon in the country.
The 2026 NFL Draft may be too early for Manning. Teams will be hesitant to go to him too early, and for himself, it would be far better to stay and get two to three years of starting under center under his belt. History has shown that those seasoned at the college level develop into better NFL QBs.
It is certainly a bold call from Kelly to believe Manning can win the Heisman, lead Texas to the national title, and enter the draft. There is no reason he can’t do the first two, but it feels he would have to be otherworldly for him to go into the draft after just one season of starting.
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