What does Texas landing Quinn Ewers mean for Arch Manning?

The question that was asked concerning the Texas football program throughout the pursuit of the former Ohio State Buckeyes freshman quarterback Quinn Ewers out of the NCAA Transfer Portal early this offseason has to do with the elite five-star Isidore Newman (LA) signal-caller Arch Manning. With Texas landing Ewers out of the transfer portal over the weekend, it’s hard to know what course the recruitment of Manning will take.

There’s no doubt that the top target for the Longhorns on the recruiting trail for any class is Manning. He’s the top-ranked high school prospect in the nation in the 247Sports Composite and the Top247 for the 2023 recruiting cycle. And it looks like Texas is already one of his top schools from early on in his recruitment.

But it’s likely not going to help the Longhorns in pursuit of Manning’s commitment that Ewers is now making his way to the Forty Acres. The combination of bringing in Ewers and going 5-7 in the season that was isn’t doing any favors for Texas in Manning’s camp right now.

Yet, how big of a deal is it that the Longhorns just landed a commitment out of the transfer portal from Ewers as it pertains to the pursuit of Manning?

Texas football will see an impact on the recruiting trail with 5-Star QB Arch Manning after landing transfer QB Quinn Ewers

That question likely hinges on three factors. The first is how soon Ewers declares for the NFL Draft if he is to take hold of the starting job with Texas next year. Since Ewers reclassified to join the 2021 Ohio State recruiting class this fall, he technically could declare for the NFL Draft after the 2023 season, which would mean three years for him in college.

That would also mean that Ewers is only the Longhorns starting quarterback hypothetically through one year while Manning is in college. Sitting behind Ewers for just one season likely wouldn’t be a deal-breaker for Manning with the Longhorns.

Moreover, it could even be a selling point to recruits like Manning eventually if the Longhorns are actually able to turn it all around with Ewers as the starting quarterback.

The second factor here hinges on just what I was talking about. If the Longhorns actually right the ship with Ewers, head coach Steve Sarkisian could be doing himself a favor in pursuit of Manning by landing this commitment out of the transfer portal. The Manning camp is not going to want to send Arch to a place where he has to be the savior of the program.

Thus, if Texas is rolling by the time Manning is set to sign and enroll in whatever college he chooses, it takes a lot of the pressure off of his shoulders if he does land on the Forty Acres.

The state of the program is going to matter a lot for Manning in 2022. Texas needs to put a better product out on the field for him to realistically choose the Longhorns.

And the third and final factor that could impact Manning’s connection with Texas after landing the commitment from Ewers over the weekend is the supporting cast Sark can build thanks to this newfound momentum on the recruiting trail. Texas needs to build out the wide receiver room and a stronger offensive line in the 2022 and 2023 classes.

Texas already did a good job with that by landing commitments from a pair of offensive linemen over the weekend in the elite five-star Summer Creek offensive tackle Kelvin Banks and three-star Duncanville offensive tackle Cameron Williams.

Keep up that type of recruiting momentum along the offensive line ahead of the Early Signing Period, and Texas will definitely be on the right track in terms of catching Manning’s attention. The final piece to this puzzle as far as the 2022 signing class is concerned could be landing a pair of commitments from four-star Todd Beamer (WA) offensive tackle Malik Agbo and five-star Bowie interior offensive lineman Devon Campbell.

All in all, if Texas can prove to Manning that the right supporting cast will be around him at the skill positions and along the offensive line, it will go a long way to eventually maybe getting a commitment out of him. And Texas could largely build that supporting cast thanks to the momentum on the recruiting trail that traces back to this past weekend.

It’s clear what landing a commitment out of the transfer portal means for the Longhorns. Most Longhorns fans likely know what landing a commitment from Manning could do for the program in the 2023 recruiting class. It goes without saying that the effect in the next year or so from Ewers coming to Texas will directly impact the recruitment of Manning.