Texas Longhorns QB Arch Manning Took 'Big Step' in Practice, Says Steve Sarkisian

Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning appears ready to fully embrace his role as QB2.

Jan 1, 2024; New Orleans, LA, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) / Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

AUSTIN -- Texas Longhorns coach Steve Sarkisian spoke at length about backup quarterback Arch Manning following Tuesday's practice and admitted he had just witnessed the big-name phenom take "a big step" during the team session from earlier in the morning.

The 2024 Longhorns will be kicking off their annual Orange-White Spring Game at DKR on Saturday. Now as the QB2, Manning will almost certainly be the starter opposite of Quinn Ewers for the spring game. Luckily for eager Texas fans, Manning's coming off what Sarkisian called his "best practice."

Texas quarterback Arch Manning (16) / Sara Diggins/American-Statesman / USA

"I thought Arch had probably arguably his best practice today," Sarkisian said Tuesday. " ... I thought he made a few throws today in our team period that he didn't make Saturday and hadn't made and that was a big step in my opinion."

This past season, Manning only played in two contests and didn’t appear in his first-career college game until the regular-season finale against Texas Tech. He finished that 57-7 win going 2 of 5 passing for 30 yards while adding a 12-yard run. He then took the final snaps in Texas’ 49-21 win over Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship.

Even though he’s barely had a chance at in-game experience, the most talked-about backup in the country has shown fans flashes of what he can do, and now appears ready to fully embrace the QB2 role this upcoming season based on Sarkisian's comments.