STEVE SARKISIAN REVEALS THIS ABOUT ARCH MANNING: WHY I STILL BELIEVE IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL’S MOST FAMOUS BACKUP
AUSTIN, TX – In the world of modern college football, where the transfer portal giveth and the transfer portal taketh away, patience is a relic. Loyalty is a luxury. And sitting on the bench is seen not as development, but as a failure to launch.
Yet in the heart of Texas, behind the towering walls of Darrell K Royal–Texas Memorial Stadium, one of the most scrutinized players in the sport isn’t starting. He isn’t demanding a trade. He isn’t even making a peep. He’s just working. And according to his head coach, he’s getting scarily good.
In a wide-ranging press conference this week, Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian didn’t just offer the usual coach-speak platitudes about his backup quarterback, Arch Manning. He provided a rare, detailed, and compelling glimpse into the evolution of the sport’s most famous freshman—and in doing so, gave every reason why the belief in his future is not just hope, but a certainty.
“The growth that Arch has made in the last 12 months is as drastic as any player I’ve been around,” Sarkisian stated, his tone measured but emphatic. “And it’s a credit to him. It’s not easy. Everybody in this room, everybody out there, anoints him as this guy. And then you get to college and it’s hard. The playbook is hard. The speed of the game is fast. And you’ve got a really good player in front of you.”
That player, of course, is Quinn Ewers, who himself is generating first-round NFL Draft buzz. For many, the Manning vs. Ewers narrative was the premier quarterback battle of the 2023 offseason. Sarkisian, however, insists it was never that close. The job was Ewers’s to lose, and he only solidified his grip on it with a stellar season.
But what Sarkisian revealed next is why the Manning faithful—and the Texas coaching staff—remain so bullish.
The Classroom and The Weight Room
Sarkisian pinpointed two areas of monumental growth: above the shoulders and within the physique.
“First, the mental aspect of the game,” Sark explained. “A year ago, he was swimming. The play calls were long. The formations were complex. The protections, identifying fronts, making checks… it was a lot. Now, he’s not just reciting the play call in the huddle; he’s owning it. He’s got command. He’s making protection adjustments at the line of scrimmage with confidence. The game has slowed down for him immensely.”
Then, there’s the body. The lanky freshman who arrived on campus has been transformed by Texas’s strength and conditioning program.
“He’s put on 15 pounds of good weight,” Sarkisian revealed. “His arm strength has increased because of it. His velocity on throws is noticeably different. He’s always had a natural, easy throwing motion, but now there’s serious power behind it. He’s driving the ball down the field with authority he didn’t have a year ago.”
The Practice Player Paradox
Perhaps the most telling revelation from Sarkisian was about Manning’s performance where no fans and few cameras are present: on the practice field.
“He’s lighting it up on the scout team,” Sarkisian said with a hint of a smile. “I mean, he is giving our first-team defense absolute fits. And that’s no small thing. Our defense is one of the best in the country. He’s making throws into windows that aren’t really windows. He’s extending plays with his legs. He’s making us better because the look he gives us is as good as any quarterback we’ll see all season.”
This is the paradox of Arch Manning’s current existence. His greatest highlights, his most impressive moments, are happening in secret. They are witnessed only by coaches and teammates, who have become his biggest advocates.
The Character Question
In an era of instant gratification, Manning’s decision to stay, learn, and compete without public complaint has not gone unnoticed within the program. It has, in fact, cemented his standing.
“The character of the human being is A-plus,” Sarkisian said. “There is zero entitlement. Zero. He comes from an unbelievable family that understands process and development. He’s a great teammate. He supports Quinn, he’s engaged in meetings, and he works his tail off every single day. That stuff matters. It matters in the locker room, and it matters for the long-term success of this program.”
Sarkisian’s message was clear: they are not just developing a quarterback; they are cultivating a leader.
Why I Still Believe
So, why, amidst the constant drone of transfer speculation from outsiders, do I still believe in Arch Manning?
I believe because his coach’s assessment isn’t based on hype, but on tangible, observable growth in the facets of the game that truly matter: mental processing, physical maturity, and competitive character.
I believe because the most difficult step for any young quarterback is the one from high school to college, and Manning has already made it. He has absorbed the shock, done the hard work, and is now operating at a level that commands the respect of a veteran defense.
I believe because his name carries a burden of expectation unlike any other, yet he has handled it with a preternatural maturity that belies his age. He isn’t running from the challenge; he’s embracing the grind of earning it.
I believe because Steve Sarkisian, a renowned quarterback whisperer who has coached Heisman winners and top NFL picks, sees something special brewing. His detailed praise was not a throwaway comment; it was a strategic acknowledgment of a prized asset developing exactly on schedule.
The world may see a backup quarterback. But Steve Sarkisian sees a future star being meticulously crafted, away from the bright lights, getting better every day. The waiting is the hardest part, but for those who understand development, it’s also the most necessary. Arch Manning isn’t a story of unmet potential. He’s a story in the middle of its second chapter, and according to his author, it’s getting very, very good.
