More competition is coming to Texas for Arch Manning in the form of the Longhorns' newest four-star commit, KJ Lacey.
With KJ Lacey committing to Texas on Saturday, here comes another promising quarterback Arch Manning may have to compete with in Austin.
Lacey is a four-star quarterback in the 2025 class from Saraland, Alabama. He had 29 official offers, picking Texas over the likes of Alabama, Auburn and Tennessee. As the No. 5 quarterback in his class, his talent may be too good to keep off the field for very long. It is a reason why Manning needs to make the most out of his reps this season and be running away with the job come 2024.
Here is the graphic shared on Twitter of Lacey committing to Texas from On3's Hayes Fawcett.
Entering this season, Texas' quarterback room features starter Quinn Ewers, a promising up-and-comer in Maalik Murphy and of course, the next in line of America's football royal family. Top-flight quarterbacks want to play for Steve Sarkisian, but there is only room for one on the field at a time. Let's hope that iron will sharpen iron in Austin going forward, or this could get rough for Manning…
If Lacey is more than friendly competition at Texas for Manning, then that is a serious problem.
KJ Lacey's Texas commitment could help force Arch Manning to play up
The single most important thing for Manning in Austin is to compete every single day and not give off the impression that he is entitled. Playing for Sarkisian should be great for his development and having to compete with the likes of Ewers and Murphy right away should be seen as a positive. However, it is Ewers' job to lose in 2023 and Murphy is probably the team's backup now.
Even if Manning were to redshirt, he would be competing with Murphy for the starting job, assuming Ewers goes pro and neither of them transfer. Should Ewers struggle or not be as good as advertised in his second season as the Texas starter, that is when it will get interesting. If Ewers is to play for the Longhorns in 2024, then I think it presents a very complicated wrinkle in all this…
The whole point of Manning committing to Texas was to have two, maybe even three, years of separation between he and Ewers. Murphy was not really factored into the equation, to be honest. Frankly, Lacey shouldn't be either, but then again, you have to go out and earn it. Keep in mind that come 2024, Texas will be playing in a new conference where the entitled regularly get eaten alive.
Overall, there is a two-year gap between Lacey and Manning. So in theory, Manning could back up Ewers this year, beat out Murphy for the starting job in 2024 and come 2025, he will be well on his way towards being a first-round pick like his famous grandfather and uncles. Of course, we have seen plenty of blue-chip quarterbacks amount to nothing in college. Let's hope it is not Manning.
Lacey's commitment to Texas shouldn't be seen as a real threat, but Manning will have to earn it.