New report indicates that the Texas Longhorns plan to do QB Arch Manning a big favor before the start of the 2025 season
College football fans across the nation will finally get their wish as Arch Manning is set to start at quarterback for the Texas Longhorns in 2025. Manning, despite serving as a backup during his first two seasons at Texas, has been one of the most famous players in the sport since signing with the Longhorns […]
College football fans across the nation will finally get their wish as Arch Manning is set to start at quarterback for the Texas Longhorns in 2025.
Manning, despite serving as a backup during his first two seasons at Texas, has been one of the most famous players in the sport since signing with the Longhorns in late 2022.
That's due in large part to Manning's famous football family — dad Cooper, grandfather Archie, and uncles Peyton and Elite — and in part because of the flashes of elite talent that the young quarterback displayed in the limited opportunities he received at Texas in 2024.
Expectations will be high for Manning and the Longhorns in 2025 as the program attempts to return to the College Football Playoff for the third straight season.
Returning to the playoff, however, won't be easy for Texas as the program attempts navigate the ultra competitive SEC without a couple of its top pass catchers from last season.
Matthew Golden and Isaiah Bond, the Longhorns' top two wide receivers from 2024, are off to the NFL, leaving DeAndre Moore Jr, who will be limited during spring practice, and Ryan Wingo as the team's top options.
Moore and Wingo are talented players, but there are questions about the Longhorns' unproven depth behind them.
That's why it's not surprising that Texas is reportedly interested in looking for another wide receiver when the spring transfer portal window opens in mid April.
"Developing chemistry with Ryan Wingo, DeAndre Moore and other Longhorns receivers as part of a new-look offense is the goal over the next 15 practices for Manning on the Forty Acres," noted 247Sports' Brad Crawford on Monday. "One recruiting source told 247Sports that with so many "unproven options" at wide receiver, expect the Longhorns to hunt for another option in the passing game during the spring window."
It's a good idea for Texas to hunt for another wide receiver in the portal, but there's no guarantee that the Longhorns will find what they're looking for during the spring transfer window.
Transfer wide receivers aren't cheap. And there aren't many true difference makers that actually hit the portal (most Power-4 teams are ponying up some big bucks to keep their top wide receivers). The Longhorns' best bet might be to find a reliable depth option. It seems unlikely that they're going to find an All-SEC type wide receiver that's eager to transfer after spring practices are complete.
Either way, I'm sure Manning will appreciate the effort to add some talent to the Texas wide receiver room.
