“I don’t know all the specifics of exactly what happened there, and I’m not going to pretend to. I’ve got enough stuff on my plate that I got to deal with.” That’s what Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian said when talking about Matthew Sluka’s hoopla with UNLV. Now, what made Sarksian feel that he has bitten more than he can chew?

The big quarterback dilemma. The Longhorns HC faced a double-edged sword all throughout the 2024 season. While he was bashed for playing Quinn Ewers and benching Arch Manning, the burden got lighter as Ewers made his way off to the NFL. That’s when Sarkisian opened up about what he feels for Manning and gave kudos to Ewers for having charted through a rough path.

How Arch Manning leads Steve Sarkisian’s squad with humility

Now, carrying a heavy last name has its own pros and cons. And who knows it the best? Texas QB Arch Manning. Being the nephew of the legends Eli and Peyton Manning, he got charged with nepotism attacks. However, in no time, the 19-year-old proved himself. Last season, against Mississippi State, Manning racked 26 of 31 passes, gifting Longhorns with an 83.9% completion rate and two touchdowns. Against UTSA, he turned heads, completing 9 of 12 passes and coming up with four touchdowns. Now that Ewers is away, fans are inquisitive to find out Sarkisian’s plan of action for Manning.

On the April 3 episode of the NFL on NBC podcast, the host, Chris Simms, hosted the Longhorns HC. That’s when Sarkisian gave a breakdown on what makes Manning a hero in the Longhorns’ squad. “Obviously, it was great for Arch to get two starts last year. And started our SEC, first SEC game ever against Mississippi State while Quinn was was dealing with the oblique strain.” Against UL Monroe, he won the HC’s heart with 15 of 29 passes and 2 touchdowns. Sarkisian continued, “Are the physical tools there? No doubt about it. Is the work ethic there? No doubt about it. Is the brain there? No doubt about it. But what I probably appreciate most about him – it’s the personality.” 

The Longhorns HC sounded confident while claiming it has nothing to do with his last name. Coming from a family of football legends, Manning never allowed any sense of pride or superiority complex to come in his way. Instead, he bonded effortlessly with his team members. “The guy is a great teammate. He’s helping. It doesn’t matter if he’s the smallest guy in the room, the walk-on. He’s a great friend to him. Or if you’re the five-star on your official visit, he’s a great. He’s a great friend to him, to the administration, to the community. That’s not because of the last name on the back of his jersey; that’s just who he is.” That’s what makes him loved by the Longhorns players. 

By now, it’s their priority to protect him. They are not playing with Manning, but rather playing for him. But Sarkisian better prepare himself for a big heartbreak. That’s because the NFL is waiting with bated breath for the 2026 NFL Draft. So much so, that if Manning was eligible for the 2025 NFL Draft, PFF believes he would be the No. 1 quarterback prospect. Just like Sarkisian’s heart still pains for his former QB, Ewers.

Steve Sarkisian praises Quinn Ewers for fighting through the pain 

Unfortunately, Ewers did not find the lucky by his side in the 2024 season. He came up with 3,472 yards and 31 touchdowns. While Sarkisian’s former QB might have thought that his NFL chapter is going to be different, there, too, he got a grounding alert. The 2023 season saw Ewers registering career-high numbers: yards per attempt (8.8), completion percentage (69 percent), passer rating (158.6), and touchdown-to-interception ratio (3.7). But he lost all the charm in 2024 because of this torn oblique. And this had an impact on his draft stocks.  

According to NFL Rookie Watch, “Quinn Ewers is reportedly thought to be ‘on the same level as a prospect’” as Spencer Rattler was last year by one NFL scout. That makes the QB going as the 150th overall pick in the fifth round. But Sarkisian still chooses to place Ewers at the pedestal. “First of all, three years here, three different injuries throughout his time…largest city in the US with no major professional sports. So we are the pro sports team; we are the NFL team here. So the scrutiny right at the quarterback position is at an all-time high in college football.”

Back in 2022, Quinn Ewers missed three games due to an injured clavicle and two due to an injured shoulder in 2023. Even his last season did not spare Steve Sarkisian’s QB, as he was bogged down by a torn oblique injury. However, amidst these misfortunes, Ewers did stand out. “The ball comes out of his hands so effortlessly, so just, and it’s literally on point every single time, right. I give him credit. He worked at his craft too, he was a shotgun, a little more of an air raid type quarterback that came into the program and really worked on the nuances.” Steve Sarkisian knows his quarterbacks like the back of his hand—and with Arch Manning, he’s ready to craft his next big success story.