Arch Manning Ready to Lead Texas After Quinn Ewers’ Departure: “I’m Thankful for Everything He Did for Me”
The Texas Longhorns are stepping into a new era, and Arch Manning is at the helm.
With Quinn Ewers declaring for the NFL Draft, Texas now turns to Manning, the No. 1 overall recruit in the 2023 class (per 247Sports), as their starting quarterback heading into their second season in the SEC.
Reflecting on Ewers’ departure, Manning shared a heartfelt moment they had following the Longhorns’ College Football Playoff loss to Ohio State.
“After the Ohio State game, I was with Quinn in the locker room,” Manning told ESPN College Football. “He was just like, ‘Enjoy every moment. It goes by quickly, so love all your teammates and have fun.’ I took that to heart, and I’m thankful for everything he did for me.”
Manning spent the last two seasons learning behind Ewers and now takes over a team that finished 13-3 (7-1 SEC) in 2024. In his limited action, Manning has thrown for 969 yards, nine touchdowns, and added four rushing scores.
Ewers, meanwhile, wrapped up his Texas career with an impressive 3,471 passing yards, 31 touchdowns, and a 65.8% completion rate last season, leading the Longhorns to back-to-back College Football Playoff appearances.
With the spotlight now firmly on Manning, the expectations are sky-high. Many believe he can take Texas to the next level and deliver the program’s first national title since 2005.
Manning’s first big test? A rematch with Ohio State to open the 2025 season on Aug. 30.
