Arch Manning signs with Texas Longhorns
His older uncle is a five-time NFL Hall of Fame MVP and quarterback. His younger uncle is a two-time Super Bowl champion, a giant and a giant hunter alike for his exploits against Tom Brady, the arguably greatest of all time. Archie Manning is his grandfather. And he is Arch Manning, already proclaimed the fourth advent of the prodigious Manning family.
Hailing from Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, Louisiana, Manning is not only the number one quarterback recruit in the class of 2023, but the highest-ranked recruit in the entire prospect group. There is a question that must be asked: whether Manning would occupy such a high position if his last name were different. But there’s no denying that Manning himself can play.
There is a great weight that comes with the name Manning. The expectation is that Arch can live up to it. By now, we know that talent comes from family. And in the film, it’s clear that Manning has it in his genes. Like his uncles, he is tall and lanky. He has a smooth and fast throw and can throw with speed and touch. He is athletic enough to extend plays and create out of the pocket, and has the ability to elevate a team.
That ability, along with his legacy, is why Manning was so coveted. He had offers from Alabama, Georgia and Clemson. But in the end, he chose the Texas Longhorns.
It’s a fitting destination for Manning, whose relationship to his own legacy isn’t much different from Texas football itself.
Texas chasing its past and fighting to regain glory
Texas’ golden age wasn’t that long ago. In 2005, the Longhorns won the National Championship with the great VInce Young of the CFB. From 2001 to 2009, the Longhorns finished in the AP Top 10 seven times. During that span, his record with legendary coach Mack Brown was 101-16. And nearly 15 years ago, they were up for grabs for a second National Championship, but lost to Nick Saban’s Alabama Crimson Tide in their first championship win.
There is an entire generation that lived and remembers the golden age of Texas. But in football, 15 years is a lifetime. Since the Longhorns’ fateful loss in the 2009 championship, the program has only eclipsed 10 wins once. Five times, including in 2021, they have fallen below the .500 mark. Texas has been successful on the bowl circuit, with a 6-2 record since 2009. But the standard used to be higher in Austin. Much higher.
There has always been pressure for new-age Longhorns to live up to their legacy. But that pressure is renewed in the immediate timeline. Texas, along with Oklahoma, has plans to join the lauded SEC starting in 2025. Few really know the trials that await them better than head coach Steve Sarkisian. Sarkisian was the offensive coordinator for the 2020 Alabama Crimson Tide championship-winning team.
Once in the ranks of a titan, Sarkisian will soon face them in the battle lines. And ghosts of Texas’ past may haunt the program again. That’s why they need to be prepared.
Texas loads up on talent to build its way back
A 5-7 record in 2021 does little to generate excitement for Texas’ rebirth. But on paper, Sarkisian’s Longhorns have the makings of a dream team, particularly on offense. Manning may be listed as the 2026 NFL Draft QB1, but he’ll have to wait his turn behind Quinn Ewers, a 2024 NFL Draft QB1 contender and the No. 1 recruit in the 2021 class.
Ewers was considered one of the most naturally talented QB recruits in recent memory when he came out. And throughout the offensive unit, the Longhorns have the talent to back him up. robinson bijan is a first-round caliber running back with rare instincts and skills, and Roschon Johnson is a worthy complement.
The passing group is loaded with dynamic talent, from long-striding catalyst Xavier Worthy and RAC monster Jordan Whittington to explosive Wyoming transfer Isaiah Neyor and Jahleel Billingsley. Beyond them, there’s five-star Ja’Tavion Sanders, as well as point-catching wizard Agiye Hall, a high-profile transfer from Alabama whose status is unclear, but his presence is untenable.
It’s an offseason dream team if there ever was one. Full of promise but also inflating expectations beyond the point of no return.
But these players alone do not define Texas’ upcoming season. The offensive line still needs to play better, as does a talented but flawed defensive cast. But explosive players like these don’t usually come in such large numbers. It’s a chance for Sarkisian to push his pitching into the SEC.
On the immediate timeline, the presence of Ewers, Robinson, Worthy and others makes Texas a venerable threat. But off the field, passively, Manning’s looming presence and promised legacy is something Texas can sell as it looks to move up brick by brick. Texas already has two five-star offensive linemen in the 2022 class.
In 2023 and beyond, Ewers and Manning can help attract more talented recruits to Texas. And ideally, once Manning takes the reins, Texas will be ready to take the next step. Such progression is not only desired; it is necessary for a program that floats one step further away from its legacy each season.
Arch Manning and Texas depend on each other for the sake of legacy.
Interestingly, the Manning family has had success against Alabama. Peyton had a 3-1 record against the Crimson Tide in his Tennessee career. Archie and Eli had combined 4-2 records while playing at Ole Miss. But neither of them played at Alabama today. Neither of them played in today’s SEC. That challenge will be unique to Arch.
In some ways, Arch Manning and Texas now depend on each other more than almost any combination of player and team. Legacy is a weight on the shoulders of both, for Manning: to create a future in soccer that demands his last name. And for Texas: to return to the glory days of a fading past.
On the surface, the fact that Texas has never “come back” is a source of gleeful amusement. But in Austin, it’s a troubling, teasing reminder of past success and a once-great program that was removed from the CFB pantheon. With a move to the SEC on the horizon, the clock is ticking for Texas to truly make a comeback.
When the time comes, they will need Arch Manning to help them get there.
ep further away from its legacy each season.
Arch Manning and Texas depend on each other for the sake of legacy.
Interestingly, the Manning family has had success against Alabama. Peyton had a 3-1 record against the Crimson Tide in his Tennessee career. Archie and Eli had combined 4-2 records while playing at Ole Miss. But neither of them played at Alabama today. Neither of them played in today’s SEC. That challenge will be unique to Arch.
In some ways, Arch Manning and Texas now depend on each other more than almost any combination of player and team. Legacy is a weight on the shoulders of both, for Manning: to create a future in soccer that demands his last name.
On the surface, the fact that Texas has never “come back” is a source of gleeful amusement. But in Austin, it’s a troubling, teasing reminder of past success and a once-great program that was removed from the CFB pantheon. With a move to the SEC on the horizon, the clock is ticking for Texas to truly make a comeback.
When the time comes, they will need Arch Manning to help them get there.
