Dan Rubenstein from The Solid Verbal questioned whether Arch Manning could deliver for the Texas Longhorns in his first time as a starting quarterback. He pointed out that in the field of inexperienced SEC quarterbacks, you have two veterans returning with considerable starting experience in Florida’s DJ Lagway and South Carolina’s LaNorris Sellers.
“Yeah, Tennessee has a new starting quarterback. Yes. Texas A&M goes into its first full season with Marcel Reed as its starting quarterback,” Rubenstein said. (6:22)
Rubenstein was still a bit apprehensive in regards to Arch Manning’s readiness, questioning his pecking order as far as SEC quarterbacks are concerned:
“Like, Taylen Green is back. LaNorris Sellers is back. DJ Lagway had plenty of time and starts last season. So even the teams were you’re like, ‘Is this guy (Arch Manning) going to work out as the full-time guy?'”
Manning’s 2024 debut consisted of just two starts when Quinn Ewers was injured. While he compiled a healthy stat line with 583 passing yards, four passing touchdowns, and four rushing touchdowns, that is a much lesser sample than his contemporaries in the SEC. Even though his completion percentage of 68.3% was promising, analysts still question if those two games were enough to prepare him for the week-to-week conflict of the conference.
It’s even more striking considering that in other programs in the SEC. Tennessee has a new starting quarterback with considerable experience, while Texas A&M sets full sail on Marcel Reed’s first full season as the starting quarterback. These teams actually got quarterbacks that have shown they can thrive in the immense pressure cooker of SEC football.
Arch Manning’s Rarity Sets Him Apart in the SEC
Arch Manning’s adventure is contrary to the typical thinking in this new transfer portal era. The majority of five star recruits expect to see immediate playing time or run to a different school. Dan Rubenstein further elaborated on Arch Manning’s current standing with respect to other rookie quarterbacks.
“Is there anybody else in this conference, maybe I’m missing him, where it’s like, yep, he’s been waiting his turn, has played a little bit? And Arch Manning has played, but not on that same level, not in the same number. He has started a game or two, I think. But in terms of the greenness of his career, he is that rarity in college football.” (6:45)
“That’s the rarity of Arch Manning and the rarity of Texas’s situation and of his career path as a five-star who’s waited a couple years to be that full-time, every-week starter,” Rubenstein continued.
The Texas coaching staff is aware of these concerns, which is why they made major alterations for the 2025 personnel. The team has adjusted their offense to help protect Manning better. They will place a greater emphasis on smart decision making when scrambling, and a ground game that will lessen unnecessary punishment along the way.
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