The Texas Question Mark and the Call of Death Valley
Do you remember when Peyton Manning decided to return to Tennessee for his senior season back in 1997? Most national analysts thought he was out of his mind. He was guaranteed to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft, yet he went back to Knoxville to polish his game, soak up one more year of college football, and refine his decision-making under center.
Fast forward to today, and we’re seeing similar speculation surrounding his nephew. Arch Manning’s path at Texas has been anything but linear. From waiting his turn behind Quinn Ewers to stepping into the starting spotlight in Austin, the expectations placed on his shoulders have been astronomical. But after navigating the heavy pressure of the SEC, the draft chatter hasn’t quite aligned with the fairy-tale script many expected. Draft evaluators like Todd McShay have floated the idea that Arch might need another full college season before taking the NFL leap — and more intriguingly, that his best path forward could involve exploring the transfer portal.
I think if Arch decides to play a senior season in college, staying in Austin might not actually give him the ... (MORE)