It’s officially the Arch Manning era in Austin. And the excitement is palpable! With Texas spring in full swing, the highly-touted QB is settling into his new role. After spending most of last season as Quinn Ewers‘ backup, he’s now the face of the Longhorns, and his teammates are already rallying around him. Reports out of Texas suggest that he’s handling spring practice exceptionally well.

Arch Manning’s growth is evident in the field, and the Longhorns insiders have taken notice. “Arch Manning looked the part in Day 1,” Texas reporter Anwar Richardson gushed over his ability. “He looked like a veteran.” Well, athleticism runs in the blood, right? But it’s his teammates that give fans a fresh look into his new role as Steve Sarkisian’s No. 1 QB. 

On April 1, Arch Manning took to Instagram to upload a carousel of the best moments captured during Texas’ spring practice. From his shot with Steve Sarkisian to hanging out with his friends, the 19-year-old proved he’s everybody’s great friend. “Good vibes over here,” he captioned. His fellow Longhorns flooded the comments with support. Kicker Will Stone backed his emotions and responded, “Sounds about right.” And that’s just the beginning. 

Safety Michael Taaffe joined in the conversation with a playful comment, directed at one particular post where Arch Manning was holding a cup as he posed with his friends. “What’s in the cup [?]” he probed. WR Matthew Golden, who declared for the 2025 NFL Draft, also weighed in saying, “Dat Boy,” while Ryan Wingo wrote, “Slimee.” CB Caleb Chester showed his excitement with a finger-crossed emoji while DB Derek Williams Jr. commented, “Son Son 🤞🏻.” WR Parker Livingstone also chimed in with a humorous comment that read, “A bunch of water and a bunch of electrolytes kinda day.” The overwhelming locker room support makes one thing clear — the new starter has earned the respect of his team. 

Steve Sarkisian is no exception. He is thrilled with Arch Manning’s approach this spring. “All those natural things that a quarterback has to do to instill belief in his teammates, to instill belief in the staff, he’s doing it,” he stated. “But, more importantly, for him, which I love, he’s having fun doing it, and doesn’t feel like he’s working this. He’s playing the game of football. He’s being a great teammate.” Perhaps one of the reasons that makes him so endearing to many is his humility despite his famous last name. His fame doesn’t get in the way of him staying grounded through his teamwork and work ethic, as Sark noted. It goes without saying that expectations are sky-high for this talented kid. 

Hype around Arch Manning in 2025

Arch Manning enters the 2025 season with a high expectation bar. Some have already thrown his name into early Heisman Trophy conversations. The former No. 1 overall recruit has totaled 969 yards and nine TDs in 12 career appearances with limited playtime — solid for a QB adjusting to college levels. As Richardson added to his spring practice hype, “He looked like it wasn’t his first rodeo. And as we know, it’s not his first rodeo because he got two starts last season. Throwing the deep b— he looked fantastic. He had an amazing over-the-shoulder pass to Ryan Wingo. He threw the short routes especially well.” 

Inside Texas Football’s Eric Nahlin also highlighted how Arch Manning is evolving his playing style. “Maybe he picked up some good things from Quinn Ewers,” he noted. But there are differences. Unlike his predecessor who often took what the defense gave him, Manning prefers to push the football downfield. “I think Arch is definitely tapping into that,” Nahlin added. “Take the check downs, get the running backs involved, and live for another play.” 

The Longhorns will have a few more weeks of spring practice to prepare for their tough season opener against Ohio State on August 30. Arch Manning’s progress will be under the microscope, but early signs suggest he’s up for the challenge.