"He put the critics back in their place": CFB insider clamps down on criticism around Texas QB Arch Manning following spring game performance 

Arch Manning may have finally shown why he has the potential to become a legendary quarterback.

During the Texas Longhorns' spring game on Saturday, Manning stole the show, throwing for 355 yards and three touchdowns, although his White Team was defeated by the Orange Team 35-34.

Arch Manning's performance was summarized by college football insider J.D. PicKell, who said:

"Very tough day for the 'Arch Manning is overrated' crowd. ... He put a lot of those critics back in their place."

During his short college football career, in which he has spend most of his time on the bench as a backup for Quinn Ewers, Arch Manning has gained many critics, who have said things like:

"Arch Manning would have been a three-star prospect with a different last name," according to PicKell of On3.

Saturday's performance in the spring game showed how much he has developed as a player in one season.

During the 2023 game, Manning (who had just enrolled at the University of Texas a few months earlier) threw for 30 yards and had only five completions out of 13 attempts.

This led to people critiquing Arch Manning. What they saw during that game was nothing like the domination he showed in high school or was it a performance that people associate with the name "Manning," a name defined by the legendary quarterback play of his uncles Peyton and Eli Manning, and his grandfather, Archie Manning.

Having a redshirt freshman season on the bench did not silence Manning's critics, but Saturday's spring game illustrated that he can become the strong quarterback many predicted that he will be.

Could Arch Manning become the starting quarterback this season?

Manning's performance during the Longhorns' spring game was impressive, but will it be enough to create a quarterback controversy in Texas this season?

Currently, the Longhorns are committed to Quinn Ewers as the starter. Last season, Ewers led the Longhorns to their last Big 12 championship before moving to the Southeastern Conference this season. This also gave landed them their first appearance in the College Football Playoff, where they lost to the Washington Huskies in the Sugar Bowl.

Many had predicted that Ewers would declare for the NFL draft, and the starting job would be given to Arch Manning. However, Ewers has returned to Austin for one final season. There were calls for Manning to enter the transfer portal as he would be unlikely to start this season, but these were ignored, and Manning stayed with the Longhorns.

It was widely assumed that Manning would be on the bench again this season, as Quinn Ewers was the starter and no one was close enough to threaten him. But Saturday's performance may lead to Manning getting more chances to play.

It's unlikely that Manning will be the starter this season, but he has proven to his critics and the coaching staff that he's the five-star prospect that UT recruited and should only improve over time.

Whatever happens, the quarterback room for the Texas Longhorns is going to be powerful this season and could lead them to success.

Do you think that Arch Manning will become the Longhorns starter at some point this season?