Steve Sarkisian’s 3,303-Yard Plan for Arch Manning Confirmed by Insider After Troubling Update Triggers Panic at Texas Camp

Teams like Alabama and Notre Dame have yet to finalize their starting quarterback. Texas Longhorns’ choice in that regard had been sorted for some time now. Who other than the famed Arch Manning to take the mantle? This was a moment that Texas fans were always looking forward to. Another Manning name is now playing in college football, that too in that burnt orange and white. That’s the ultimate dream right there. However, there are a few things that would still be taken care of.

First and foremost would be Arch Manning putting in enough reps during spring practices and gelling in with the teammates. This is because the highly talented player hasn’t seen the QB1 responsibility before extensively. He did start in the 2 games when Quinn Ewers was injured. However, the responsibility in 2025 will be filled with high expectations. The other thing that Manning would need to take care of would be injuries. We had seen what could happen when Ewers was injured and if last season gave any lessons. Then, it would be wise to fix the roof before it gets leaky.

Longhorns’ insider Brad Kellner of the ‘Locked on Longhorns’ podcast provided a player who could act as a supporting bridge for Arch Manning. “If you’re a Texas football fan, you know how rare it’s been for a Longhorn quarterback to start and finish all 12 games of an entire regular season. And, of course, now with the expanded playoff, we’re talking about potentially a 15, 16, and 17-game season coming up for the Longhorns this fall. Odds are you’re going to need more than one quarterback. Trey Owens is going to be pretty important, I think, at some point for Texas when we get to the fall.”

Well, last season, Quinn Ewers suffered a torn oblique in just week 2 of the season. He was rested for 2 games and recovered while Arch Manning took up the QB1 duties. After that, Ewers came back and took back that spot. But, to be perfectly honest, after that injury, Ewers didn’t quite look like his old self, as he had problems throughout the season. Then, against Kentucky, Ewers again suffered an ankle injury as he was hit with a ‘hit drop tackle.’ Overall, it always looked like the QB was playing through injuries, which many analysts also pointed out. In that regard, a solid option like Trey Owens would perfectly supplement duties when needed.

A 4-star 2024 prospect who was ranked 20th in his position and 274th overall by ON3. With a total rating of 90.68, he looked to be a solid backup and potential starter in the long term. In his 2023 season, he won the Texas District 17-6A offensive MVP for the second time consecutively. On the back of 3,303 yards at a stellar 70.9% completion rate for just 5 interceptions. He didn’t feature much last season for Texas. But this is a player who promises to be a solid QB2 player for Texas, given his athleticism and pocket presence. However, there’s still a problem Steve Sarkisian needs to cope with.

Troubling update for Steve Sarkisian?

Well, Arch Manning, last season, while he didn’t start all games, still managed to garner more than 1,000 (passing and rushing) yards at a 67.8% completion rate. This alone has given us a glimpse into what the player has to offer. Still, what good is a quarterback when he doesn’t have those elite receivers to throw to? Steve Sarkisian might have a similar situation with his roster and receiver room, as we saw in the spring practices recently. This situation might have arisen due to a combination of different things.

The receiver corps in Texas has some prominent names, such as Ryan Wingo, Parker Livingstone, and DeAndre Moore. While Ryan Wingo had a 472-receiving-yard season, and DeAndre Moore Jr. also had a 450+-yard receiving year. Still, do they have the quality of Matthew Golden or Gunnar Helm? Probably not. But, even then, it seems players are readily choosing to jump ship, and that has contributed to the thin receiver room that the Longhorns are getting by with. Take, for example, the case of Freddie Dubose.

This is a second-year player who had gelled in with Arch Manning last spring. Some even touted their chemistry to be the ‘game-changer’ for the Longhorns. However, according to recent reports, Dubose is no longer with the Longhorns and would likely be transfer listing when the spring window comes. This leaves the Longhorns with just 8 scholarship receivers. Compare that to previous seasons, where they had Xavier Worthy, Jonathon Brooks, and Adonai Mitchell. You will now understand how lacking the receiver room is for Texas.

Sure, some freshman additions are coming, like Kaliq Lockett, who is a five-star WR and is ranked 2nd in the 2025 class. Then there is Jaime Ffrench, a 4-star WR ranked 8th in his position. Lastly, Daylabn McCutcheon is another blue-chip receiver in the freshman class, ranked 17th. But can these players start delivering instantly? Or will Steve Sarkisian need to look into the transfer portal? Well, that has to be seen in the upcoming season as to how Sarkisian wades through this problem and comes up on the top.