Did Texas QB Quinn Ewers Take Subtle Shot At Backup Arch At Manning Passing Academy?

THIBODAUX, Louisiana - He may not have meant anything by it. And it was so subtle that it went unnoticed when he said it live.

But upon further review (and transcribing the interview), Texas starting quarterback Quinn Ewers may have taken a veiled shot at Texas No. 2 quarterback Arch Manning - the most famous backup perhaps in college football history - on Friday at the Manning Passing Academy here that Arch's grandfather Archie started nearly 20 years ago.

Ewers and Arch, as well as Georgia quarterback Carson Beck, Ole Miss' Jaxson Dart, Ohio State's Will Howard and other elite starting signal callers from around the country, are camp counselors for hundreds of youth and high school quarterbacks, who have flocked to this camp every June as a growing rite of summer.

Texas quarterback Quinn Ewers came close to leading the Longhorns to the national championship game last season, but they fell to Washington in a national semifinal at the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 1 in New Orleans. (Getty Images)

During Media Day Friday, Ewers was asked about entering the 2025 NFL Draft as a redshirt junior after starting for the Longhorns the last two seasons following his true freshman year in 2021 at Ohio State.

"Yeah, I mean I'm excited, but first, got to play well this year," he said. "But yeah, I'm excited for all the opportunities that are in front of me."

That includes possible contention for the Heisman Trophy next season as he is one of the nation's top returning quarterbacks in the country.

FEATURE: Arch Manning Content To Wait His Turn

Ewers entering the 2025 NFL Draft would very likely make Manning the Longhorns' starter for the 2025 season. That after Manning will have waited two entire seasons as the consensus No. 1 prep quarterback in the nation from Newman High in New Orleans when he signed with Texas before the 2023 season.

"Super blessed to be in the position that I'm in," Ewers, a native of the Dallas area who was the No. 1 prep quarterback in the nation in 2021 out of Carroll High in Southlake, continued with his answer. "I know a lot of people would want to be in this position."

Yes, and Arch Manning is one.

Quinn Ewers Is In An Enviable Position

"And I just try to think about that stuff every day," Ewers said of his position as Texas' starter. "Because there are probably a million people who wish they were a quarterback at Texas and have the opportunity to go play in the NFL next year. That just kind of puts a different perspective on things."

Ewers led Texas to a 12-1 season last year and its first entry into the College Football Playoffs before a 37-31 loss to Washington at the Sugar Bowl in a national semifinal. He finished No. 16 nationally in efficiency at 158.6 on 272-of-394 passing for 3,479 yards and 22 touchdowns with six interceptions. Ewers was No. 12 in the nation in passing yards per game at 289.9.

He hit 24 of 43 passes for 318 yards in the loss, including a 41-yard completion in the final moments in leading the Longhorns to the Washington 12-yard line with 15 seconds left. But he missed on his last three passes, and it was over. In the end, though, Texas got a taste at least of getting close to its first national title since the 2005 season.

"Yeah, it's an addictive feeling for sure," Ewers said. "It was a lot of fun to be a part of the last four teams standing, so it was cool. We just need to continue to build the culture. Continue to be steadfast in everything we do. Continue to rely on each other and build that unbreakable bond to where we will look to the right and to the left and understand that all the stuff we've been through was not for nothing."

As for himself, Ewers is focusing on being more of a leader.

"I'm working on taking full command of the team," he said. "And I think I've done a pretty good job of it. Just a lot more comfortable in my own skin, and a lot more comfortable just taking charge in that aspect of the game."

Texas QB Arch Manning (left) as a 3-year-old in 2008 at the Manning Passing Academy with his grandfather Archie Manning. (Getty Images)

And not looking back at Arch.

"Well, he's the backup for Quinn," Archie Manning said Friday. "He's got to be ready. Quinn's been hurt a couple of times (shoulder vs. Alabama in 2022). It happens. I hope it doesn't. I hope Quinn has a great, great year. He's worked hard. He's a good player. But Arch had a really good spring, good spring game. And he's going to have himself ready to play."