Arch Manning makes his first start for Texas while Quinn Ewers recovers

With Quinn Ewers still recovering from an oblique abdominal muscle injury, Arch Manning will make his first start for No. 1 Texas on Saturday night against UL Monroe, Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday.

“Quinn has made great strides since Saturday night to get there,” Sarkisian said. “But I'm excited about his future as a player, but also the future of the season for us. … And it's good for us long-term if he gets healthier, possibly another week, as we prepare for SEC play.”

The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Manning, the top prospect of the 2023 class, played four games for Texas but broke out last week in a 56-7 win over UTSA after Ewers was injured.

Manning, who came on as a second-quarter substitute, scored five touchdowns. His 75-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo and his 67-yard touchdown run — the longest ever by a UT freshman — marked the first time in school history that a player recorded a run and throw of at least 65 yards in a game. Only Colt McCoy and Vince Young had done that in the same season for Texas.

Sarkisian said Manning always prepares as if he could play from the start, but executing the game plan from the opening series will be different than just being thrown in at the deep end.

“Arch is more than capable, as we all know,” Sarkisian said. “I mean, you go out there and scored five touchdowns off the bench, you've already proven you can play. Now it's about executing the plan, doing it with confidence and fixing some of the problems on the field when they arise.”

Sarkisian said Ewers will support Manning through all of these issues.

“Quinn will obviously have an earpiece. He'll hear every play,” Sarkisian said. “Without question, his support of Arch is critical, and I don't foresee anything else.”

“All the goals that (Ewers) had and that we had for him at the beginning of this season still apply to him. I think we have a team that is at a national championship level and he is the quarterback of that team. And I think we still have a goal to accomplish that. … This guy is going to be in New York to win the Heisman Award … and I think he has what it takes to be a top-five NFL draft pick.”

Texas coach Steve Sarkisian

Sarkisian said he impressed upon Ewers that a week off doesn't change anything. The Longhorns play their first SEC game on Sept. 28 against Mississippi State. After a week off, they have two straight games against No. 15 Oklahoma in Dallas and No. 2 Georgia in Austin.

Ewers has completed 73.4% of his passes this season, rushing for 691 yards, eight touchdowns and two interceptions.

“All the goals he had and we had for him this season still apply to him,” Sarkisian said. “I think we have a team that is at a national championship level and he is the quarterback of that team. And I think we still have a goal to accomplish that.”

“I think this guy is going to be in New York for some of the games that are coming up to get the Heisman trophy. And whether he wins it or not, he has what it takes and I think he has what it takes to be a top five NFL draft pick.”

Earnest Hill, ULM's defensive coordinator, caused a stir Wednesday when he mentioned his team's familiarity with Manning, a New Orleans native who attended Isidore Newman High School.

“We actually have some guys on our team that played against him in New Orleans, and a couple have beaten him already,” Hill said. “So they're not too scared of him. They're not going to be scared of him here either.”

According to ESPN BET, the Longhorns are the favorites for Saturday's game with 44.5 points.