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Texas quarterback Arch Manning was “probably a C+” in his first start for the Longhorns as his team easily cruised to a 51-3 victory over Louisiana-Monroe.
“Having that many playmakers around definitely makes me feel better,” he told reporters after the game. “Tonight we have a lot of different receivers catching balls. It’s great to just give them space and let them make plays.”
As a replacement for the injured Quinn Ewers, the redshirt freshman completed 15 of 29 passes for 258 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions.
“I don’t think anybody here thought he was going to have a perfect game,” head coach Steve Sarkisian said. “I thought he was going to prepare really well, work really hard and do everything he could to play good football. He was going to learn some lessons and I think that’s what tonight was about.”
If he were honest, Sarkisian might be grateful that Manning had some good moments despite some mistakes. For now, at least, Texas is avoiding a quarterback controversy that would distract the team from its quest to reach the College Football Playoff.
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“I think if Arch Manning does really well in the next two games, Steve Sarkisian is going to have a big decision to make.”@DHx34 believes that Arch Manning has a chance to earn a starting spot. 👀 pic.twitter.com/1fboD0nWi1
Few would have thought Saturday night that Manning offers the Longhorns better short-term prospects than Ewers, and that it will therefore be easier for Ewers to resume his duties as starting quarterback once he is healthy.
Granted, the discussion could change if Manning continues to run the offense and stomp Mississippi State’s defense into the ground in Week 5 before two tough games against Oklahoma and Georgia.
