Steve Sarkisian Reveals How Arch Manning 'Spearheaded' Longhorns Recruiting Efforts

Steve Sarkisian joined The Pivot Podcast and detailed the recruitment of Arch Manning, and how he helped shape Texas' elite 2023 class.

© Ricardo B. Brazziell / American-Statesman / USA TODAY NETWORK

Steve Sarkisian is no stranger to coaching high-level quarterbacks, dating back to his time at both USC and Washington all the way to his stints at Alabama. 

From USC's Carson Palmer and Washington's Jake Locker to eventually Alabama's Mac Jones, multiple quarterbacks have been drafted after being coached by Sarkisian. 

Sarkisian's track record with quarterbacks helped him bring in Quinn Ewers via the the transfer portal in the 2022 recruiting cycle and just one year later land Arch Manning in the 2023 class. 

While Manning's commitment stirred up rumors of quarterback controversy, Ewers is still the guy in Austin. Despite, that, though, Sarkisian opened up about what makes Manning special to Ryan Clark, Fred Taylor and Channing Crowder in a recent appearance on The Pivot Podcast.

"The beauty of it is this - he's a kid. He's a college kid," Sarkisian said. "So many times you see the Manning name and you think he's this perfect in a box, nothing's wrong with him. I'm not saying anything is wrong with him, but he's still a kid."

"What he does have that I think is somewhere in the Manning DNA, this guy loves football, he works at football. We practice in the morning, that evening he wants to already be up here watching every one of his plays. He works at his craft. He wants to be great, there's no doubt about it."

Landing Manning as part of the 2023 recruiting class was a big win for Sarkisian and his staff, especially with Manning then turning around and talking to fellow recruits about joining him at Texas 

"Ultimately Arch said that's where I want to go school, 'Who else do you want me to recruit?'" Sarkisian said. "He started talking to Ced Baxter, started talking to Anthony Hill, he started talking to Johntay Cook."

"We ended up with one of the top recruiting classes in the country, but he spearheaded that like a really good quarterback should. They're the leaders of that class and where this program can go."

Once Manning committed to Sarkisian and the Longhorns, the ball started to roll in terms of commitments. From Johntay Cook II to Anthony Hill, Texas picked up several elite recruits en route to landing the No. 3 overall 2023 class. 

It isn't hard to see why Manning chose not only Sarkisian, but Texas itself. While he may not start right away but rather sit behind Ewers, he's in a position to be the best version of himself at Texas - with the coach that will help bring it out of him. 

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You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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