Quinn Ewers is getting extra attention after leading Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals last season and opting to return to Austin without entering the NFL draft, and fans are clamoring for the most high-profile backup quarterback in the country, Arch Manning.
But Ewers isn’t worried about Manning lurking as a QB2.
“There’s pressure with anything,” Ewers, who is projected to be one of the top quarterbacks in the 2025 NFL Draft, said in an ESPN television interview. “I think there’s pressure that comes with playing the quarterback position at Texas.”
Ewers described him and Manning as “goofy” but said they were “good friends,” a sentiment echoed by head coach Steve Sarkisian in an interview. ESPN.com InterviewHe addressed the perception that the two quarterbacks don’t get along.
“They’re really great friends. I couldn’t be closer,” Sarkisian said. “I have a real appreciation for what each of them does because they know the journey they’ve been on, they know the path they have to follow and they know how we coach them. From Archer’s perspective, he’s seen Quinn overcome some adversity, battle injuries and have to deal with criticism of being the quarterback at Texas. So, seeing his success, I think Arch is fired up for Quinn.”
“On the flip side, I think Quinn understands the journey Arch went through in his first year in our system. If you look back at the spring game when Arch was really a freshman and what that was like and then how he’s played in his second year in our system, you can tell Quinn has a high opinion of Arch’s work. So at the end of the day, we’re going to need those two guys at some point this season.”
Manning, Cooper’s son and Peyton and Eli’s nephew, barely played as a freshman last season when Coach Ewers led the Longhorns to the College Football Playoff semifinals, but lost 37-31 to Washington in the Sugar Bowl.
Ewers’ return sparked speculation that Manning might move on to allow Ewers to play.
But Manning, who flashed potential during Texas’ spring game this year, said earlier this month that playing for Texas is his “dream” and that he wants to eventually work his way up to be the No. 1 quarterback in Austin.
Texas will open the season at home against Colorado State on Aug. 31 before traveling to Ann Arbor for an early-season clash against the defending national champions, Michigan, on Sept. 7.
