3 predictions for Arch Manning's first career start vs. ULM

During a Zoom press conference that Texas football head coach Steve Sarkisian called on the morning of Sep. 19, redshirt freshman Arch Manning was named the starting quarterback for Week 4 against the UL-Monroe Warhawks.

Will Texas football's offense show anything with Arch Manning getting his first career start before the SEC opener next weekend?

This comes after redshirt junior starting quarterback Quinn Ewers suffered an abdominal strain early in the second quarter in Texas's win over the UTSA Roadrunners at home last weekend. Manning was impressive coming in the game in relief of Ewers in the win over UTSA in Week 3, leading the Texas offense to the dominant 56-7 win.

Ewers' status remains "week-to-week" after suffering the abdominal strain injury last week. He is expected to be listed as "questionable" for his status on Texas's first injury report of the season next week ahead of the SEC opener against Mississippi State at DKR.

Sarkisian praised Manning for his performance for him to come off the bench in relief of Ewers and to hit so many big plays on his first couple of drives leading the Texas offense.

"You never know, as a backup, when you’re going to get put in the game. For him to come in on his first play to hit DeAndre Moore for the touchdown. On his third play — we’re in a little different style of offense when he’s in there — the little zone read, to pull it and the explosive play."

- Steve Sarkisian on Arch Manning

Manning threw for over 200 yards, and rushed for over 50, while tallying up five total touchdowns and no turnovers in the win vs. UTSA last weekend. He will get the chance to build off that performance when he makes the first start of his collegiate career this upcoming weekend at DKR against ULM.

Ryan Wingo emerges as Manning's top target

Manning's longest touchdown pass last week against UTSA was a beautiful 75-yard deep ball connection to true freshman wide receiver Ryan Wingo. That was Wingo's first touchdown of his collegiate career, and it served as the official nail in the coffin for Texas to put away UTSA last weekend early in the second half.

That connection from Manning to Wingo was a perfectly-timed throw-and-catch on a nicely run deep post route from the talented true freshman wideout. Wingo showed his speed and acceleration to burn the opposing DB lined up against him in pass coverage for UTSA on that long touchdown catch and run for 75 yards.

After the season's first three games, Wingo has been the most explosive playmaker on the team, averaging an insane 28.1 yards per catch. He also leads all SEC wide receivers in yards per touch this season, including an explosive 55-yard run against the Michigan Wolverines defense on a jet sweep in the second half in the big win in Ann Arbor for the Longhorns in Week 2.

Not only has Wingo been Texas's most explosive playmaker at the skill positions this season, he's also been one of the most reliable. Wingo has caught all seven targets he's had in the receiving game this season, including two-for-two on contested catches.

At 6-foot-2 and 210 pounds, Wingo has the size, speed, and strong hands to be a do-it-all threat at multiple levels of the field for Texas's offense. Texas's receiving corps is loaded, but Wingo's unique athletic traits, strong hands, and large frame make him a really appealing receiver target for a quarterback still settling into Sarkisian's offensive system like Manning for this weekend at home.