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The 1 ‘trick’ Arch Manning needs to learn to help Texas football reach CFP heights appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Texas football has a lot of expectations on it coming into this season, and Arch Manning is the head of the snake. After a disappointing start to his 2025 season, Manning was quietly one of the best quarterbacks in all of college football near the end of last season.
That understandably has a lot of people excited for what the former five-star recruit can do in 2026. Coming into the season, Manning has been billed as one of the favorites to win the Heisman Trophy and potentially be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.
But, for all of the good things that Manning showed at the end of last season, ESPN’s Bill Connelly pointed out that he needs to improve outside of the pocket in order for Texas to reach its ceiling.
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“Manning’s inability to throw on the run was still a major hindrance: He was 82nd in completion percentage outside the pocket (49.2%) and 94th in completion rate on the move (48.6%),” Connelly wrote. “It’s a confusing weakness for someone so athletic, but neither he nor Texas will reach their ceiling until he improves in this regard.”
It would be no surprise to see Manning and Texas appear as the No. 1 team in the preseason AP poll for a second consecutive year. Steve Sarkisian and the Longhorns brought in one of the best transfer portal classes in the entire country, headlined by Hollywood Smothers at running back and Cam Coleman at wide receiver. As a result, Manning will have no shortage of weapons to work with on offense.
Manning is one of the best athletes in the country at the quarterback position, and he has a lightning-quick release that NFL scouts love. As the game slows down for him in year two as the starter, his accuracy, decision-making and anticipation as a passer should all improve. If he can parlay that with a more efficient season outside of the pocket as a creator, NFL teams will be lining up to take him at the top of the draft next spring.
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