Arch Manning didn't enter the world of college football quietly. How could he? With a last name like Manning and recruiting attention beyond most prospects' wildest beliefs, the young quarterback burst onto the scene.
Then, he sat for two years behind Texas's former starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. Now, it's time for the Manning Era to begin in Austin, and the hype continues to build around the prodigal son.
Most recently, former Longhorn star offensive lineman Kelvin Banks Jr. shared his confidence in Manning, saying that he has no doubt Texas will be just fine with him holding the offensive reins.
"I think Arch [Manning] is gonna do well," Banks said. "I've been there with him since he got there, and I played in the game with him when Quinn [Ewers] wasn't able to go out there and play. So, I've seen what he can do and I know the type of kid he is and the type of mindset he has."
Now, Banks is speaking from his relatively minimal in-game experience alongside Manning, who has only appeared in 11 games and has had just two career starts so far. Not to mention, Banks was part of an offensive line unit that was a finalist for the Joe Moore Award.
Saints 2025 first round pick Kelvin Banks, Jr. has started at left tackle since day 1. He showed why he’s a starter by his dominant work in OL-DL drills.
— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) July 29, 2025
As a Texas Longhorns alum, Banks also weighed in on the new starting QB in Austin, Arch Manning. pic.twitter.com/gdkEpyzzCO
However, for Manning to receive that praise from a former teammate who became a first-round NFL Draft pick (going ninth overall to the New Orleans Saints) is a great sign for the quarterback's future with the Longhorns.
Banks isn't alone in expecting a lot from Manning this season. College football talking heads like Paul Finebaum and others have compared Manning to some of the greatest college quarterbacks ever, including Heisman winner Tim Tebow.
There is a lot of pressure on Manning this season, especially if he decides to declare for the 2026 NFL Draft, which is what a lot of people are thinking he will do. Maybe, just maybe, he'll be able to get Texas over the hump that Ewers never could: an appearance in the National Championship game and maybe even a national title.