Arch Manning is one of the most hyped college football players over the last couple of years. Despite just two games as a starter under his belt, he is declared an upcoming dynamic player and has been compared to one of the greatest college football players of all time, Tim Tebow.
While most analysts, such as Paul Finebaum, believe Manning will showcase his talent in the 2025 college football season, others feel his hype train is out of control and that he will not be able to match it unless Texas wins the national championship.
Various analysts and fans also debate whether Manning will stay at Texas for another year or declare for the NFL draft after this season.
Giving his two cents on Manning’s draft stock, former NFL scout Daniel Kelly wrote about the Texas QB’s skills that make him different than others.
“Manning has some things about him that can’t be taught,” Kelly wrote in his scouting report. “He brings a fast-paced tempo to an offense, and he’s tough as nails (maybe a little too tough, I wish he’d learn to slide more instead of running like a running back). His innate ability to improvise is also magical.”
He continued:
“There are just some ‘non-negotiable’ things that quarterbacks need to be able to do at the next level:
- Getting the ball out of their hand quickly
- The ability to make multiple reads and go through progressions
- Accuracy
- Ideal downfield ball placement that puts receivers in a position to pick up yardage after the catch
- Explosive plays
- Good ball security
“Manning showed mejust enoughin these areas to be able to make this calculated projection,” Kelly added.
Take it from someone who has studied every single snap Arch Manning has played in at Texas, it’s not because of his last name he is my preseason QB1 on my 2026 NFL Draft Board.
It’s because of what he has put on tape and how that translates to the NFL.
Arch Manning Scouting… pic.twitter.com/tHo6GRxX9c
— FIRST ROUND MOCK (@firstroundmock) August 16, 2025
Steve Sarkisian Details Difference Between Plays for Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers
Quinn Ewers is considered one of the greatest Texas Longhorns quarterbacks in recent times. While he was expected to declare for the 2024 NFL Draft after the 2023 season, he decided to return for another year and played in the 2024 season.
This resulted in Arch Manning having to wait for his turn for another year, contrary to the expectation that he would start in the 2024 college football season.
Now that Ewers is off to live his NFL dreams, Manning is set to take the centre stage at Texas. Talking about how the offense runs differently for the two quarterbacks, head coach Steve Sarkisian said:
“We may not change so much (from Ewers), but Manning’s ability to use his legs on third down in the red area to create plays when people are in man coverage and people are blitzing and there’s voids to go run, I think would be another component to that as well.”
Arch Manning and Texas will kick off the 2025 college football season against Ohio State in Columbus on Aug. 29.
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