Steve Sarkisian had plenty of praise for his QB1 on Monday. The coaches of the Texas Longhorns came forward to recognize how Arch Manning has handled the season.
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It comes as Texas suffers its third loss and the Arches embark on an “unusual” path to success. “I don’t know if any college player has had to go through that before becoming a full-time starter,” Sarkisian said, via On3.
Manning, a redshirt sophomore and former five-star recruit, emerged this season from intense media attention and insane family expectations tied to his last name and the Longhorns brand. After a rough start, which included a season-opening 14-7 loss to Ohio State and several subpar performances, it seems like there is a different side of Manning that we are all starting to see. The 389 yards and four touchdown game without an interception is a start to Texas’ 52-37 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks.
Sarkisian said Manning’s growth has been noticeable, “He’s better and stronger for it today… He’s still moving, he’s still improving, he’s still getting better. But, I’m very proud of him for the way he’s handled what we’ve been through.”
Although Texas is unlikely to reach the College Football Playoff this season, Manning’s development has sparked optimism for the future. The Longhorns coach understands that while the journey hasn’t been perfect, sometimes “taking the road less traveled” is good for character building.
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