Arch Manning's Weaknesses Revealed Ahead of Potential Breakout Season at Texas
Arch Manning's Weaknesses Revealed Ahead of Potential Breakout Season at Texas originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning is in the conversation for the Heisman Trophy and No. 1 overall NFL draft pick even before his first season as a full-time starter.
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After sitting behind Quinn Ewers for two seasons, it's Manning's turn to take the helm of head coach Steve Sarkisian's offense.
The former five-star recruit showed flashes of ability in some meaningful appearances last season, but there are more questions than answers given Manning's inexperience.
That's where his weaknesses lie entering the 2025 season, according to ESPN's Jordan Reid, who evaluated Manning among other top quarterbacks that will be eligible for next year's draft.
"Manning has only 95 career passing attempts, so his sample size is small and more development is necessary," Reid wrote. "He had a habit of sticking to his primary read too long in his starts, leading to poor decision-making.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16).Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
"He will need to improve his timing in getting through progressions and knowing when to move off his first read," Reid continued. "He could also use his mobility much more on non-designed QB runs to help string together positive plays."
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Manning (6-foot-4, 216 pounds) completed 67.8% of his passes for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions in 10 appearances as a redshirt freshman last season. He also racked up 108 rushing yards and four touchdowns on the ground.
Three of those appearances came in pressure-filled situations. Ewers first went down with an injury in the second quarter against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners in Week 3, giving Manning full rein of the offense.
And he didn't disappoint. In the decisive win against UTSA, Manning rushed for a 67-yard touchdown, the longest by a Longhorns quarterback since Vince Young (2005).
Ewers went on to miss the next two games against the Louisiana Monroe Warhawks and Mississippi State Bulldogs, marking Manning's first two wins as a starter.
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Albeit against some poor competition, Manning did enough over that three game stretch to paint a promising picture for the future. He completed 69.4% of his passes for 805 yards with eight touchdowns to two interceptions while adding 86 yards rushing and two scores on the ground.
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs the ball during a game against the University of Texas at San Antonio Roadrunners.Aaron E. Martinez/American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Reid believes Manning will be best served by declaring for the 2027 draft due to his inexperience at this point. However, that doesn't mean there isn't "immense potential" surrounding the Longhorns' star.
"He has a well-put-together frame, allowing him to avoid defenders in the pocket and bounce off tacklers in open space as a runner," Reid wrote of Manning's strengths. "Manning has a picture-perfect base and smooth delivery as a passer. He doesn't have much experience in that department, as Texas used him primarily as a runner in 2024, but his prototypical build and physical tools were apparent on tape and give him immense potential."
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Manning and the Longhorns will kick the 2025 season off in a big way against the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus. The College Football Playoff rematch will take place at noon ET Aug. 30 on Fox.
Related: Nation's No. 1 RB Sounds Off Against Recruiting Report After Ohio State Visit
Related: Kirby Smart, Georgia Add Another Recruiting Win As Surge Continues
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 9, 2025, where it first appeared.
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