Arch Manning Reaches 'Impressive' Speed During Practice, Texas Coach Steve Sarkisian Says

Did Peyton or Eli ever run that fast?

Throughout the much-hyped prep career of Arch Manning, the Texas freshman quarterback has dodged comparisons to his famous uncles, Peyton and Eli. But while he awaits his first-ever college game, it’s very likely that he’s already done something on the gridiron that his Super Bowl-winning family members never were capable of.

Speaking to reporters following Monday’s practice, head coach Steve Sarkisian lauded Manning for his scrambling ability, and revealed that his new prodigy reached a speed of 20 miles per hour, according to CJ Vogel of The Football Braniacs.

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Both Peyton and Eli Manning could move around a bit better in their younger days than the speed they displayed in the NFL, but it’s a fairly safe bet that neither ever reached 20 mph. Before his first college snap, he is already well ahead of both uncles in rushing yards, as Peyton and Eli tallied a combined negative-316 rushing yards during their college careers.

They fared much better in the NFL, which does not count sacks against rushing totals. Peyton ran for 157 yards in 2001, though Eli never cracked the 100-yard mark in a single season.

Quinn Ewers will open the season as Texas’s starting quarterback, while Manning will battle with Maalik Murphy for the backup spot. The Longhorns will open their season on Sept. 2 against Rice before a Week 2 matchup at Alabama.