Texas redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning threw his first touchdown pass and rushed for the first score of his collegiate career Saturday against Colorado State.
Manning, the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, entered Saturday’s game late in the third quarter with the Longhorns leading 38-0. It was his third career appearance.
Manning was pressured on third-and-goal from the 5 and scrambled into the middle of the field before finding transfer receiver Silas Bolden near the right sideline. Manning flipped the ball laterally to Bolden, who scored to give Texas a 45-0 lead.
ARCH MANNING WITH HIS FIRST COLLEGIATE TD PASS 🔥 pic.twitter.com/nAcXUbyreI
— ESPN (@espn) August 31, 2024
Manning added a rushing touchdown with a quarterback sneak on fourth-and-goal to give the Longhorns a 52-0 lead with 10:10 remaining in the fourth.
ARCH MANNING QB SNEAK FOR THE TD‼️ pic.twitter.com/IfvElL7wID
— ESPN (@espn) August 31, 2024
Quinn Ewers, Texas’ third-year starter, guided the Longhorns to their commanding lead. In two-and-a-half quarters of action, Ewers completed 20-of-27 passes for 260 yards, three touchdowns and one interception.
Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said Thursday that Manning is “light years ahead” of where he was entering last season, when he was a true freshman and third on the depth chart.
“His understanding of what we’re trying to do offensively, the nuances of the scheme, the timing of certain throws, the protections, all of those things. And I just think his overall comfort level and confidence is much higher, than it was a year ago at this time,” Sarkisian said.
Manning led touchdown drives on each of his first two series. The first went 49 yards in four plays and the second covered 55 yards in 11 plays.
Prior to the game against Colorado State, Manning had two completions and 30 yards on five pass attempts. He accrued that stat during a game against Texas Texas last November.
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(Photo: Tim Warner / Getty Images)
