Maalik Murphy and Arch Manning both bring plenty to the table for the Texas Longhorns as backup quarterbacks. It looks like one of the two will start for The University of Texas on Saturday.
We noticed the uphill battle ahead for Texas, and a loss is more likely for the squad than before the injury to starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. That said, it’s within the realm of possibility the Longhorns find a way to Arlington for a conference title game.
The team will have to navigate a schedule of teams hungry to face Texas as they present their best gameplan to secure a victory. For that reason, the team must choose its quarterback carefully.
Maalik Murphy stands as the most likely first option for Texas. Murphy has a rocket arm that should carry him to the NFL someday. He also has game experience, though it hasn’t resulted in many pass attempts for the former California native.
Murphy has the strongest zip of the Longhorns’ top three quarterbacks and throws a particularly great dig route. His zip can, however, make it difficult to catch the football.
Option No. 2 is Arch Manning, the five-star quarterback and No. 1 overall player in the 2023 On3 industry recruiting ratings. Arch has likely earned the equivalent of a master’s degree in processing defenses from the Manning family, but might be behind the speed of the game after playing at a small Louisiana high school.
Manning is the most athletic of Texas’ three blue-chip quarterbacks which could provide margin for error for the Longhorns’ offensive line. Even so, Murphy has real game experience and an extra year in the team’s offensive system.
Neither quarterback should be expected to play flawless football. Growing pains are coming. Nevertheless, opposite the unknown weakness stand unknown strengths. Future opponents must prepare with little film on either quarterback.
Texas will look to maximize its next starting quarterback’s strengths on Saturday against BYU. The Longhorns (6-1) take on the BYU Cougars (5-2) at 2:30 p.m. CT on ABC.