Key Takeaways
- Arch Manning will step in as QB1 for the Texas Longhorns in 2025 as they eye a run to the National Championship.
- Texas great Jamaal Charles spoke to RG about Manning's character and believes the pressure actually plays in his favor.
- The signal-caller is the leading favorite in the Heisman Trophy race as he takes charge under center for Quinn Ewers.
Arch Manning in action (Photo by Jack Gorman/Getty Images)
Jamaal Charles knows firsthand what it takes to lead the Texas Longhorns to a national championship.
The former 38-year-old running back did just that as a freshman with the Longhorns back in 2005 when he helped lead Texas to an upset over the high-powered USC Trojans in the 2006 Rose Bowl. Charles ran for 878 yards and 11 touchdowns on 7.4 yards per carry during that season, winning Big 12 Offensive Freshman of the Year honors in the process.
Fast forward a couple of decades later and the Longhorns may be positioned once again to win the national championship. Texas has been in the College Football Playoff semifinals over the past couple of seasons, and they're now led by Arch Manning, who is considered the Heisman Trophy favorite.
Manning is one of the most-hyped college football players of all time, and what makes it even more notable is the fact he's started just two games in his collegiate career. That comes with the territory when you come from the greatest family of quarterbacks in football history, with Arch's uncles, Peyton and Eli, and his grandfather, Archie, all being among the greatest to ever do it.
"I don't think he has pressure," says Charles of Manning in a one-on-one interview with RG. "I think he's in the right place. He's seen his uncles, he's seen his pops, he's seen his dad. He's more knowledgeable. He's more ready to play. I don't think there's pressure on him.
Manning has looked solid in his brief appearances, throwing nine touchdowns against two interceptions with a 67.8% completion rate during the 2024 season. However, it is worth noting that in those two starts, Manning was going up against the likes of Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State.
Tall Task Ahead For Manning
This time around, there will be higher expectations from the start of the season with the Longhorns facing the defending national champion Ohio State Buckeyes in Columbus in the season opener. Furthermore, Manning is the full-season starter for the first time after playing the role of backup to Quinn Ewers over the past two seasons.
“We know last year we came up short, but seeing the kids on the field, they know we have a chance,” says Charles. “We got a good team, we have more experienced players, even though the kids haven’t been playing as much, they have more experience."
Charles says Manning has "checked all the boxes" so far during his two years in Austin, Texas, amid all the media hype and attention. The 6-foot-4 quarterback was regarded as the top prospect in the Class of 2023.
"I think that's a blessing to have something like that, because you know of the stuff that he can do," says Charles of Manning. "He's been on a high pedestal since he got here, and he's been answering, checking all the boxes already, I haven't seen a day where he's crumbled. I haven't seen that yet."
The former four-time Pro Bowl and three-time All-Pro running back says that although there's a lot of hype surrounding Manning due to his family name, he says he's talked to him and calls him "very humble."
Charles played with an all-time great collegiate quarterback in Vince Young. Young won multiple accolades during his final season at Texas in 2005 in addition to winning the national championship. The eventual NFL first-round draft pick won the Big 12 Offensive Player of the Year, the Manning Award, and was a Consensus All-American during the 2005 season.
During the team's Rose Bowl win over the Trojans, Young had arguably the greatest single-game performance by a quarterback, rushing for 200 yards and three touchdowns with no turnovers.
Charles sees something similar in Manning, citing his "special abilities" and how the Longhorns faithful are "excited" to see what he's capable of doing.
"With his time coming, he's going to show you what type of special abilities he has with his talent and we're excited to have," says Charles of Manning. "We're so excited to see what he's capable of doing and it's going to be a blessing to watch it."
