Texas Longhorns Coach Praises Arch Manning for ‘Preparing Himself’ as Starter
Although it will be Arch Manning’s first fall camp as the official starting quarterback for the Texas Longhorns, the preparations that come with the role are far from new to him. 
When Texas kicks off its fall camp on Wednesday, Manning will enter his first camp as the clear starter. However, he has been preparing as though he were the starting quarterback ever since he arrived in Austin.
Despite being a highly-touted five-star prospect and starting his career behind a veteran quarterback, Manning has always approached his role with the mindset of a starter.
“Some players come into these situations, sit behind others, and don’t prepare themselves to be a starter, but this kid has not done that,” said Texas quarterback coach AJ Milwee. “He’s prepared like a starter, whether he was starting or not, for the last two years. He’s put himself in a position to be ready when the time comes.”
Manning’s Readiness in Action
Milwee’s comments were reflected in Manning’s performance on the field when he had the chance to start. Even though he spent much of his early career as a backup to Quinn Ewers, Manning got two starts in 2025 after Ewers was sidelined with an injury.
In those starts, Manning threw for 583 yards, four touchdowns, and two interceptions, completing 68.3% of his passes, while leading Texas to victories. He finished his sophomore year with 10 appearances, totaling 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and just two interceptions, while also adding 108 rushing yards and four touchdowns.
When Manning wasn’t starting, he was often used in special packages or saw playing time late in blowouts.
“I learned so much from Quinn in my two years behind him,” Manning said about his experience as a backup. “He handled it like a pro. It’s not easy with all the media attention around me, but I’m grateful for him. I actually reached out to him recently for advice on two-minute drills and plays he likes to start with.”
Why Manning’s Preparedness Matters for Texas
In college football, the idea of being “ready when your number is called” is often a cliché, especially for quarterbacks. However, when a coach praises a player for doing just that, it speaks volumes.
For Texas, entering a season where they could be ranked as the preseason No. 1 team in the AP Poll, hearing about Manning’s consistent preparation is exactly what fans want to hear as they look ahead to a promising season.
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