Is Steve Spurrier right about the Texas Longhorns starting QB?
Texas sophomore quarterback Arch Manning has been the talk of the offseason with 100% positive coverage from the national media, which is not surprising given his lineage and five-star recruiting rating. Already the preseason front-runner for the 2026 Heisman Trophy with +700 odds (FanDuel), Manning's lack of playtime over the last two years after sitting behind veteran Quinn Ewers has led to one famous name questioning the overwhelming hype.
This week, Hall of Fame coach Steve Spurrier, most known for coaching Florida (1990-2001) and South Carolina (2005-2015), including leading the Gators to the 1996 National Championship, made an appearance on Pat Dooley's Another Dooley Noted Podcast, as the topic of Arch Manning's first starting season came up, and Spurrier did not hold back.
"They've got Arch Manning already winning the Heisman (Trophy), too. My question is, if he's that good, how come they let Quinn Ewers play all the time last year? He was a seventh-round pick."
Spurrier is, of course, entitled to his opinion, but it's fair to note that Quinn Ewers played through a torn oblique through most of the 2024 season, resulting in a lack of mobility that hindered his accuracy. During Ewers' two-game absence, Manning looked solid in his place and went on to appear in ten games, primarily used as a runner.
However, Manning will be playing in front of two new starters at left and right tackle and throwing to an inexperienced wide receiver corps, but will be aided by a talented running back room led by junior Quintreveon Wisner.
Using Ewers' 7th-round draft selection could be seen as a cheap shot. Still, I believe that last season's veteran team would have continued to back Ewers as the starter to finish his Texas career on a high note before Manning eventually took the reins.
Arch Manning's arm strength, dual-threat running ability, and above-average accuracy and touch should lead a young but highly talented Texas offense to at least 10 or 11 wins, mainly due to head coach Steve Sarkisian's play-calling.
Like Texas A&M QB Marcel Reed, both sophomore signal callers will be under fire if things go south. Still, unlike Manning, Reed will be working with an equally talented, but more experienced, receiving corps and a loaded running back room in front of what many consider the best offensive line in the SEC.
Contact/Follow us @AggiesWire on X (formerly Twitter) and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Texas A&M news, notes and opinions. Follow Cameron on X: @CameronOhnysty.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
39 minutes ago
- New York Post
2025 Wimbledon predictions, odds: Best bets, picks
Gambling content 21+. The New York Post may receive an affiliate commission if you sign up through our links. Read our editorial standards for more information. The oddsmakers believe that the men's side of the 2025 Wimbledon Championships is a two-horse race between Jannik Sinner and two-time defending champion Carlos Alcaraz. Less than a month removed from their five-set thriller in the French Open final, Alcaraz, who won that match, is a +110 favorite to win his third Wimbledon title in as many years, and Sinner is right behind him at +200. Novak Djokovic is also getting plenty of respect as the third choice at +650, but it's pretty clear who everybody expects to meet in the finals at the All England Club in two weeks. It'll take a gargantuan effort to upset Alcaraz, Sinner and, to a lesser extent, Djokovic, but there are a few players being offered at tempting prices for the third Grand Slam of the 2025 season. Daniil Medvedev to win (40/1, FanDuel) Things have not come easily for Medvedev this season, but the 2021 U.S. Open champion should be buoyant heading into Wimbledon. Not only does he have back-to-back trips to the semifinals at the All England Club, but he's coming into the fortnight in decent form, and he should benefit from a soft draw. Medvedev is the second favorite to win Quarter 2, just behind Alexander Zverev and in front of Taylor Fritz. This is easily the softest quadrant of the tournament. Medvedev has battled injuries for the better part of a year now, but his performance on the grass at Halle suggests he's fully fit and firing. The Russian made it to the finals of that 500-level tournament, dispatching Zverev along the way. Get the lowdown on the Best USA Sports Betting Sites and Apps There are very few players outside of Alcaraz, Sinner and Djokovic who make a compelling argument, but Medvedev belongs in that cohort, and you're getting him at a terrific number. Tommy Paul to win (110/1, FanDuel) Paul is suited for best-of-five tennis. A relentless competitor, Paul is tough to put away, and he's able to raise his level against the best players. He's yet to have a breakthrough moment at a Grand Slam, but he did win a title on the grass last year, he is a former semifinalist at the Australian Open, and he was a quarterfinalist at Wimbledon in 2024. The New Jersey native is in the same section as Sinner, but his first three matches should be very manageable, so it's worth backing him at this massive number. Tommy Paul Getty Images Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard to win (420/1, FanDuel) Wimbledon is its own beast. Not only because it's played on grass, but also because there really is no warmup season for the third Grand Slam of the year, which is played just weeks after the French Open. That means we have to use our imagination a bit more when handicapping Wimbledon, especially when it comes to predicting potential dark horses. Mpetshi Perricard stands out for two reasons at this price: His serve and his path. Giovanni Mpetshi Perricard Getty Images According to the ATP, Mpetshi Perricard has the second-highest serve rating on tour behind only Fritz. As fate would have it, the Frenchman is playing Fritz in Round 1 of Wimbledon and is a +280 underdog for the match. And though there is certainly a sizable risk that Mpetshi Perricard doesn't even get out of Round 1, if he does upset Fritz, his path completely opens up until a potential showdown with Medvedev in the Round of 16. It's not all that uncommon for a player to serve his way to a surprising run at Wimbledon (Christopher Eubanks did it a couple of years ago), and Mpetshi Perricard is my pick to do that this year. Why Trust New York Post Betting Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
an hour ago
Sabalenka's Wimbledon foe is Carson Branstine, a qualifier from California, Canada and Texas A&M
LONDON -- There are plenty of tennis players who might be daunted by the prospect of making their Grand Slam debut against someone ranked No. 1 and in a big stadium — in this case, Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon's No. 1 Court. Carson Branstine, though, is embracing the circumstances she'll find herself in Monday. Branstine, 24, is a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen — she was born in California and represents Canada, where her mother is from — and helped Texas A&M win the 2024 NCAA title. She is ranked just inside the top 200, but made it into the women's bracket at the All England Club by winning three matches in qualifying last week. 'It's not like I'm a beginner. This is my job, too. We're playing the same tournament, right? It's just exciting. It's cool. And I love that for myself,' Branstine said. 'You never know what can happen. And I like it. I wouldn't want it any other way. This is the coolest thing.' Besides, facing, and eliminating, the top seed is becoming routine lately for her: This is the third consecutive event this month where Branstine is going up against a foe seeded No. 1. She beat Liudmila Samsonova at a grass-court tournament in the Netherlands, then started off Wimbledon qualifying by defeating Loïs Boisson, who was coming off a surprising run to the French Open semifinals. 'Well, of course I go out with: Why not? Because there's a lot of factors in tennis, more than just playing. You never know what can be happening on each side, behind closed doors. It's Wimbledon. It's (Sabalenka's) first round; you've seen a lot of players have tight matches in their first rounds against players that you'd never imagine that (it) would be close,' Branstine said. 'That could easily happen on Monday. You never know. With my game, maybe God's going to come down and say, 'You're going to have the best tennis of your life. You're not going to miss a single ball right now.'' Branstine credits her big serve and confidence to match with driving her recent success. When Sabalenka — a three-time Grand Slam champion and the runner-up to Coco Gauff at Roland-Garros three weeks ago — was asked Saturday what she knows about Branstine, her playing style was not what came to mind. 'I know that she's super pretty,' Sabalenka replied with a laugh. 'The other day, I opened social media, and she was giving an interview. ... I was like, 'Oh, my God, this girl is so beautiful.' ... That's all I know so far.' Sabalenka planned to discuss tactics with her team and watch some of Branstine's past matches to familiarize herself with what to expect on court. 'It's not easy to face someone you've never seen before,' said Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon a year ago because of an injured shoulder. 'I know that I'll be prepared for her game.' This is the sort of stage Branstine thought about getting to when she was a kid attending the tournament in Indian Wells. 'You go and you see those big courts and you imagine, 'What if that was me? That's my dream. I want to do that one day.' And now it's here,' she said. 'So it's a dream I get to check off my list, and no matter what happens, I'm going to have that for the rest of my life: I got to play the No. 1 player at Court 1 at Wimbledon. It's pretty cool. So I just want to embrace it, really. I just want to take in the moment and play every single point. It's still another match. ... And, you know, you never know what can happen.'
Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
Sabalenka's Wimbledon foe is Carson Branstine, a qualifier from California, Canada and Texas A&M
LONDON (AP) — There are plenty of tennis players who might be daunted by the prospect of making their Grand Slam debut against someone ranked No. 1 and in a big stadium — in this case, Aryna Sabalenka at Wimbledon's No. 1 Court. Carson Branstine, though, is embracing the circumstances she'll find herself in Monday. Branstine, 24, is a dual U.S.-Canadian citizen — she was born in California and represents Canada, where her mother is from — and helped Texas A&M win the 2024 NCAA title. She is ranked just inside the top 200, but made it into the women's bracket at the All England Club by winning three matches in qualifying last week. 'It's not like I'm a beginner. This is my job, too. We're playing the same tournament, right? It's just exciting. It's cool. And I love that for myself,' Branstine said. 'You never know what can happen. And I like it. I wouldn't want it any other way. This is the coolest thing.' Besides, facing, and eliminating, the top seed is becoming routine lately for her: This is the third consecutive event this month where Branstine is going up against a foe seeded No. 1. She beat Liudmila Samsonova at a grass-court tournament in the Netherlands, then started off Wimbledon qualifying by defeating Loïs Boisson , who was coming off a surprising run to the French Open semifinals. 'Well, of course I go out with: Why not? Because there's a lot of factors in tennis, more than just playing. You never know what can be happening on each side, behind closed doors. It's Wimbledon. It's (Sabalenka's) first round; you've seen a lot of players have tight matches in their first rounds against players that you'd never imagine that (it) would be close,' Branstine said. 'That could easily happen on Monday. You never know. With my game, maybe God's going to come down and say, 'You're going to have the best tennis of your life. You're not going to miss a single ball right now.'' Branstine credits her big serve and confidence to match with driving her recent success. When Sabalenka — a three-time Grand Slam champion and the runner-up to Coco Gauff at Roland-Garros three weeks ago — was asked Saturday what she knows about Branstine, her playing style was not what came to mind. 'I know that she's super pretty,' Sabalenka replied with a laugh. 'The other day, I opened social media, and she was giving an interview. ... I was like, 'Oh, my God, this girl is so beautiful.' ... That's all I know so far.' Sabalenka planned to discuss tactics with her team and watch some of Branstine's past matches to familiarize herself with what to expect on court. 'It's not easy to face someone you've never seen before,' said Sabalenka, who missed Wimbledon a year ago because of an injured shoulder. 'I know that I'll be prepared for her game.' This is the sort of stage Branstine thought about getting to when she was a kid attending the tournament in Indian Wells. 'You go and you see those big courts and you imagine, 'What if that was me? That's my dream. I want to do that one day.' And now it's here,' she said. 'So it's a dream I get to check off my list, and no matter what happens, I'm going to have that for the rest of my life: I got to play the No. 1 player at Court 1 at Wimbledon. It's pretty cool. So I just want to embrace it, really. I just want to take in the moment and play every single point. It's still another match. ... And, you know, you never know what can happen.' ___ Howard Fendrich has been the AP's tennis writer since 2002. Find his stories here: . More AP tennis:
