Arch Manning, your not-so-regular Texas guy, is a few months away from taking over the Longhorns offense as a full-fledged starter. The way he is drawing hype, it seems it’s just a matter of time for the guy to become the guy in the real sense for the school of his dreams. The third-generation Manning came from an elite background. So, he can easily skip the ‘whether or not’ debate in terms of talent eligibility. The kid has ‘talent’ written in his genes. But it’s not just the talent that made him an absolute standout in the Longhorns’ go-to list. It’s his. Unwavering loyalty speaks volumes.

Arch has every reason to debunk his Texas commitment anytime during his prolonged waiting time as a backup behind Quinn Ewers. He got a slew of offers on his table. Quite a no-brainer! But the 20-year-old never spent a word on why he had to undergo all these tests and trials despite proving his worth at every given chance. The answer is simple. Steve Sarkisian has been way too loyal to his former QB1, Quinn Ewers. Of course, he had reasons to be. Quinn, the ultimate architect of the current Longhorns offense, has weathered every storm with the program and seen them go from rags to riches. He deserves the prize. But so does Arch!

Arch grew up as a Texas fan, rarely missing any of the Burnt Oranges’ games to soak in an ethereal dream of being on the other side of the fence someday. The dream came true, but at what cost? An eternity of patience.

But they say if you love something, you can wait forever. For Arch, that forever is going to end soon for the youngest Manning, but the pain of the wait lingers. During a recent conversation with InsideTexas, the Texas QB1 poured his heart out: “It was tough. It’s tough in this age. I hope it pays off. There’s nowhere else I want to be. I want to be at Texas. I have friends here. I love this place. I wanted to be the quarterback here. Sometimes it’s worth the wait.”

Manning’s first breakthrough performance came when he accounted for 5 TDs as a backup during the massive UTSA win. The tantalizing glimpse showcased that he was ready to take the reins. Later, as Quinn fell victim to the injury absence, Arch started for two games (UL Monroe and Mississippi State) and made a significant mark in the realm. The young powerhorse scored a total of 939 yards, 9 touchdowns, and 2 interceptions throughout the season. A good enough launching pad for the bigger stat!

We will count the hours for the wait to translate to something bigger, better, and absolutely momentous for the Texas poster boy. But no matter if he really turns out to be the biggest star in the history of the franchise, Manning remains the boy next door that you can nudge for.

Arch Manning never believes in a larger-than-life image  

Remember when Sarkisian pointed out that the biggest quality of Arch? A little heads-up to all the teams who plan to swoop him in with a bigger paycheck. Manning couldn’t care less. The massive, abrupt transition to the NIL era in college football might make you believe that everyone is a money maniac and that it’s a norm to swap loyalty for money. But your Texas boy doesn’t fit the new Z. Sarkisian said that he is not at all a cash guy. All he wants is to be a good athlete and add value to the team he’s in.

Sarkisian said that Arch’s second name has come with a huge responsibility on his back. But he never abused it. He doesn’t behave snobby but rather like a normal, curious kid who can’t wait to know and try all the things as a rookie. It’s rare to have talent. But it’s even rarer to become grounded with that talent.

Adding to that notion, the quarterback revealed how life would change for the better off the field after officially settling into the Texas starting role. Manning dished it straight, “I can’t quit doing normal things. I’m going to go eat dinner with my buddies and be a normal college kid.”

Imagine a boy facing hundreds of camera flashes after a legendary TD shot in a historic match, leading the team to a much-needed win, and coming back to his buddies in a local cafe to chill out! Fascinating, right? That’s what the name stands for.