Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning was one of the most highly-sought after recruits and one of the most well-known players before he stepped on campus. With an opportunity to earn millions of dollars in NIL deals, though, it appears the nephew of two legendary NFL quarterbacks will take his time before cashing in.
Manning, rated as the 247 Sports’ No.1. recruit in 2023, arrived for campus this spring and had an opportunity to compete for the starting job. The 6-foot-4 quarterback went head-to-head against Quinn Ewers. After watching both quarterbacks in practice and the spring game, Texas coach Steve Sarkisian announced that Ewers will be the starter this fall.
Related: 2023 college football rankings
Sarkisian’s decision with the signal-caller will have ripple effects on the Longhorns’ offense this season and could even influence the 2024 NFL Draft. Before the fallout from that happens, though, moving forward with Ewers as the starter will likely cost Manning millions of dollars because of his approach with compensation for name, image and likeness.
Speaking to reporters on April 26, Sarkisian announced that Manning doesn’t have a NIL deal right now. It’s by choice, with Arch Manning and the Manning family believing the freshman shouldn’t be signed to a NIL deals until he becomes a starting quarterback.
It’s a choice that will likely cost Manning at least $3 million, likely far more. In the latest On3 NIL 100 rankings, Manning carries the third-highest evaluation and it only trails Bronny James and LSU gymnast Livvy Dunne.
- Arch Manning NIL value (On3.com): $3.2 million
Related: Arch Manning breaks multiple HS records
Barring an injury to Ewers, Manning will enter the season as the Longhorns’; backup quarterback. It’s a valuable opportunity for the 17-year-old, who can learn from Sarkisian on the sideline and watch Ewers’ play and how he handles himself in the huddle.
While Manning won’t be the starting quarterback early in September, the possibility remains that he could take over as the starter. If Ewers struggles early, just as he did in October-November (12-5 TD-INT, 54.4 percent completion rate), Manning could take over and land one of the largest NIL deals in the NCAA soon after.
Related: Texas reportedly spent $630K on recruiting trips for Arch Manning