Texas hosts its annual Orange vs. White spring game on Saturday, April 15, in Darrell K. Royal Memorial Stadium in Austin, Texas. For all the questions facing the program, the quarterback battle is taking center stage.
There’s a case to be made from a recruiting pedigree perspective that the Longhorns are holding the highest-profile quarterback battle of all time. Freshman Arch Manning boasts the famous name and became the first No. 1 overall player to sign with Texas since Vince Young in 2002. Somehow, Ewers’ recruiting pedigree was even better: He was the first passer attending any school to earn a perfect 1.0000 in the 247Sports Composite ratings since, again, Vince Young.
“They’re at different stages of their career, right?” Texas coach Steve Sarkisian told CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd. “Quinn’s been here for a year. He’s played games; he’s been in the system. What he’s working on is different than what Arch has been working on. [Arch] has had six spring practices.”
Manning and Ewers will publicly vie for the first time on the turf on Saturday. Redshirt freshman Maalik Murphy, a blue-chip in his own right, also has a chance to steal the show. Few quarterback rooms have boasted the level of recruiting talent Texas will have this upcoming season; can Sarkisian handle the pressure?
Here’s everything you need to know about what to watch when Texas’ quarterbacks take the field in their spring game on Saturday.
Why to watch Manning
See the last name: Manning. The Manning family is the safest bet in football. Uncles Peyton and Eli Manning each won two Super Bowls at the NFL level and the Maxwell Award in college. Patriarch Arch Manning was the SEC Player of the Year in 1969, and his No. 18 is retired at Ole Miss. Now, Arch comes to campus as perhaps the most heralded of the group — not just as the No. 1 overall recruit in this cycle, but as one of the top recruits in history.
Manning was the first freshman quarterback to start at Isidore Newman (LA) in 40 years, so don’t expect much fear. He went on to break every quarterback record set by his uncles at the school and ultimately threw for more than 8,500 yards and 100 touchdowns in four years. He was also a surprisingly versatile runner during his time at Newman.
“In addition to possessing all the physical tools desired at the quarterback position, Manning plays the game with exceptional intuition and awareness,…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CBSSports.com Headlines…