For Arch Manning, being in shape is about more than just looking good and dominating on the football field.
It’s also about showing up your teammates, Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers revealed on Wednesday.
The Longhorns’ quarterback room, which is welcoming Manning, a highly-anticipated recruit and the nephew of NFL legends Peyton and Eli Manning, started a competition this offseason to remake their bodies that culminated in a viral photoshoot.
“We kind of got addicted to doing abs, hitting biceps and triceps and all that stuff,” Ewers told ESPN. “It was just fun. And, then the more we did it, we saw more position groups stay in the locker room after, which it’s cool to see that.”
Despite the growing hype surrounding Manning’s debut, Ewers is still expected to be the starting quarterback for the 2023 season, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said in April.
The transfer from Ohio State started 10 games last year and threw for 2,177 yards, 15 touchdowns and six interceptions en route to being named Big 12 Offensive Newcomer of the Year.
Manning’s first taste of college football with the Longhorns showed there might be some growing pains for the 18-year-old freshman.
Arch completed 5-of-13 passes for 30 yards during the team’s spring game in April.
“He’s on the right trajectory that he should be on,” Sarkisian said at the time. “He’s a true freshman in college. He really should still be in high school. Just finished his first semester on the Forty Acres.
“There’s a definite transition there. There’s a transition to college life, there’s a transition to the scheme that he hasn’t been accustomed to, there’s a transition to the speed of the game and how it goes. There were a lot of really good moments that Archie had throughout the spring, and there was a couple tough days.”
Ewers threw 16-for-23 passes for 195 yards and a touchdown, while Maalik Murphy, who is also in the mix to take snaps under center for Texas, launched a 79-yard touchdown pass during the spring game.
The Longhorns are set to begin their season on Sep. 2 against Rice.
