The review of Arch Manning’s debut as the starting quarterback for Texas presented a mixed bag of opinions.
A scout mentioned to Fox Sports that the 14-7 defeat against Ohio State was “a little challenging to watch,” yet he urged patience with Manning’s development.
On that Saturday in Columbus, during Manning’s much-anticipated first start, 22 representatives from NFL teams and 33 scouts were present to observe.
Manning completed 17 out of 30 passes for 170 yards, adding one touchdown and one interception to his stats. He also scrambled 10 times for 39 yards.
One NFC scout reflected on the hype surrounding Manning, stating that despite the loss, he thought the young quarterback played better than expected. “Honestly, it was hard to watch,” the scout admitted. “Given how much hype there was, it felt impossible for him to meet those expectations. But I thought he did better than he gets credit for.”
Another scout pointed out that Ohio State’s secondary was formidable, noting that many players on that defense are likely to play in the NFL.
While public sentiment seems to be shifting against Manning, both scouts cautioned that it’s “too early to make judgments.”
Another scout remarked, “He’s fine. Texas coach Steve Sarkisian will guide him. It’s easy to overreact based on one game after inflating expectations from just two good games last year.”
Former Jets scout Daniel Kelly noted that he saw some positives in Manning’s performance after the first quarter. In a social media post, he expressed his encouragement, mentioning improvements in Manning’s ability to survey the field and execute passes under pressure.
Reflecting on his performance, Manning told reporters, “I have to play better,” while Sarkisian acknowledged that some of the issues with Manning’s throws were concerning but also served as valuable lessons.
