A month ago, Texas football officials announced that quarterback Arch Manning underwent a “minor foot surgery” that limited him during the offseason.
At the time, Manning wasn’t expected to miss spring football, which begins March 9 for the Longhorns. That status hasn’t changed, based on what Texas coach Steve Sarkisian said — and didn’t say — during his first interview since the Longhorns beat Michigan 41-27 Dec. 31 in the Citrus Bowl. But Manning isn’t quite cleared for full football activities, and Sarkisian didn’t give a specific timetable for his quarterback’s return.
“As we get into spring football practice, he’s getting to start throwing routes on air, and throwing seven-on-seven and doing those things,” Sarkisian said.
Not that Sarkisian is worried about the accumulation of any rust on a redshirt junior entering his fourth season in the coach’s system and his second year as a starter. Nor is he concerned about Manning developing chemistry with prized transfer arrival Cam Coleman and the other new receivers such as transfer Sterling Berkhalter and five-star freshman Jermaine Bishop.
“You know, Arch is a worker,” Sarkisian said. “When he’s cleared and ready to go, he’s going to get plenty of time with those guys.”
Besides, said Sarkisian, Manning’s absence in the offseason workouts has allowed rising sophomore KJ Lacey and five-star freshman Dia Bell to get extra reps with a revamped Texas receiving corps that still includes returning starters Ryan Wingo and Emmett Mosley V as well as the new faces.
“I also think (that’s) important for us from a developmental standpoint, with KJ and with Dia,” he said. “What a great opportunity for those guys, for us thinking long-term, thinking into this fall and future falls that we’ve got. This is a great opportunity for those guys to build that (chemistry).”
The offseason hype for Manning has already started regardless of his injury status. After throwing for 3,163 passing yards, rushing for another 399 yards and tallying a total of 36 touchdowns in 2025, Manning is one of five Longhorns to make ESPN’s “Way-Too-Early” All-American team. He’s joined by Coleman, left tackle Trevor Goosby, edge Colin Simmons, and transfer linebacker Rasheem Biles.
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