‘Four-Star Talent, Five-Star Name’: Analyst Unfairly Rips Longhorns QB Arch Manning

The unfair and shortsighted criticisms or Texas Longhorns freshman Arch Manning continue to fill the airwaves.

Texas Longhorns freshman quarterback Arch Manning hasn’t even hit the field in a college football game.

And yet, some are still expecting the five-star freshman to leap to the top of the depth chart and take the college football world by storm.

While others chose to place shortsighted of unfair criticisms on him due to his family lineage.

Most recently, during a visit on “Straight Fire with Jason McIntyre”, analyst Brad Powers was the latest to throw a jab in Manning’s direction, and doubt about his abilities on the field.

"To be determined," Powers said of Manning’s abilities. "Not everyone can come in and be the second coming right away. Let's give him a year. Let's wait until his sophomore season, I know nobody has any patience anymore. The hot take is this: I think he was a four-star kid with a five-star last name. If you want the sound bite, there you go.”

"He was a 4-star kid with a 5-star last name"

—@BradPowers7 tells @jasonrmcintyre why we shouldn't expect to see Arch Manning light the world on fire this season pic.twitter.com/Z22eNQdNVE

— The Volume (@TheVolumeSports) August 24, 2023

The basis of Powers’ claim is one we have heard before. Whether it be him, outspoken college football personality Mike Farrell, or others, Manning has been labeled as ‘overrated’ or ‘over-hyped’ since the before his arrival on the 40 Acres due to the power behind his last name.

Arch Manning (right) and Quinn Ewers (left) at Longhorns practice.  / USA Today Sports

To be fair, Powers does preach patience with Manning as well. Though that doesn’t justify the short-sighted opinion.

That said, many who make these claims haven’t watched a down of Manning on the field, or a single rep in a Longhorns practice. 

Or even worse, make those assumptions for nothing more than clicks or reaction.

Powers may be one, the other, or neither. But it is clear that he holds the opinion that, if Manning’s last name was Smith or Jones, he would have been anything but the No. 1 ranked quarterback in the class of 2023.

Not only that, but he doubled down on his take, apparently holding it as a slight to Manning that second-year quarterback Maalik Murphy - who is the clear No. 2 quarterback on the Longhorns roster - is above the true freshman on the depth chart.

"I'm not even sure he's second-string,” Powers continued. “Maalik Murphy would go in next after Quinn Ewers.”

Yes, the same Murphy that is not only an elite prospect himself, and perhaps the top raw arm talent in the Big 12, but has an entire year’s head start in the Steve Sarkisian offensive system over Manning.

Obviously, at least according to Powers it seems, that means that Manning’s position amongst the major recruiting services wasn’t earned, but given, due to nothing more than a name.

A hot take indeed.

You can follow Matt Galatzan on Twitter @MattGalatzan

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