Arch Manning finally broke his media silence Saturday, as the freshman quarterback met with reporters for the first time since he joined the Texas Longhorns.
Almost two dozen reporters surrounded Manning at one point during the Sugar Bowl media session, and it didn’t take long before the question everyone is wondering surfaced: Is Manning considering entering the transfer portal?
There’s been plenty of speculation that is on Manning’s horizon. The No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023, Manning has thrown only five passes all season playing behind sophomore QB Quinn Ewers. If Ewers returns next season, Manning could once again be relegated to a backup role, a once unthinkable prospect for the famous Manning family prodigy.
Manning addressed that speculation head on.
“Obviously there’s always rumors, especially nowadays,” Manning said (via On3.com). “I haven’t looked into transferring at all. I’m just focused on developing and helping this team any way I can and hopefully one day playing for the University of Texas like I’ve always wanted to.”
#Texas backup QB Arch Manning on speculation about whether he’d transfer if starter Quinn Ewers returns. pic.twitter.com/dcevZi7D3L
— Brett Martel (@brettmartel) December 30, 2023
The media session provided a photo that quickly went viral, as Ewers sat at a table, alone, quietly watching the media swarm Manning.
Arch Manning’s media debut at Sugar Bowl event highlighted in surreal photo https://t.co/SdmGq6zD4m pic.twitter.com/IpDkNKnYoR
— Awful Announcing (@awfulannouncing) December 30, 2023
That intense media interest, and all the coverage surrounding Manning since his high school days, just show how big he could be — might already be — if he were the starter at another school.
Even if Manning were already 100 percent committed to transferring, he wouldn’t have announced those plans Saturday. He rightfully wants to focus on serving as the backup quarterback to Ewers in Monday’s Sugar Bowl CFP National Semifinal against Washington.
But the possibility of Manning entering the transfer portal is on many fans’ minds.
Why would he transfer? He’s making $1.5 million (yea his name carries a lot of that weight, but so does @UTAustin ). He’ll be QB2 next year and QB1 the year he’s draft eligible.
— Brad Wheeless (@Longhorn78) December 30, 2023
I actually feel for Arch Manning. He didn’t ask for that. The resent from the other players is probably huge. The expectations are Lebron out of high school level. Just an impossible situation. https://t.co/pQ3V2OEsjf
— TheShowThor (@TheShowThor) December 30, 2023
in other words: i don’t want to announce it right now and become a distraction.
hard to imagine him sitting behind Ewers for another year.
— Marco Polo Shirt (@RioIsTrio) December 30, 2023
He has a family of NFL royalty keeping him focused on the bigger picture. He wants a 15 year NFL career. 1 more year of waiting doesn’t hinder that.
— Drew (@DrewALine33) December 30, 2023
Everybody doesn’t want to transfer until they do…
— Guy (@Guysporttruths) December 30, 2023
[On3.com]
