Amid swirling transfer rumors, Texas quarterback Arch Manning addressed the media on Saturday morning to put those conversations to bed ahead of Monday’s Sugar Bowl game against No. 2 Washington in the College Football Playoff semifinal.
“Obviously there’s always rumors, especially nowadays,” Manning said, according to Inside Texas. “I haven’t looked into transferring at all. I’m just focused on developing and helping this team any way I can and hopefully one day playing for the University of Texas like I’ve always wanted to.”
Manning, the nephew of Peyton and Eli, has endured an early college career quite different to his high school football experience, where he was the go-to quarterback at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans.
Since arriving at Texas, he has been battling to move up the quarterback ranks, but has spent most of his time as the third-string behind the Longhorns starter Quinn Ewers and backup Maalik Murphy.
Murphy, however, is transferring to Duke, which could set Manning to be the backup next year behind Ewers.
“There were a lot of tough days. I’m not going to lie,” Manning told reporters of his first year, per ESPN. “I was never a backup in high school, so there are some days when you graduate early and you’re alone in your dorm room. You’re like, it’s just another day of fighting for a third-string job. My family, they’re supporting me. Coaches are pushing me. I’m glad I had this year to develop, learn, and grow as a person and a player.”
In the absence of Murphy, Manning will be the backup to Ewers on Monday when Texas hopes to move on for a chance to win its first national championship since 2005.
Manning has appeared in two games so far in the orange and white, including his debut against Texas Tech.
Across the two appearances, he completed two of five pass attempts for 30 yards.