Former Texas Longhorn and current Seattle Seahawks rookie sensation Byron Murphy might be one of the only people to speak openly on the Quinn Ewers vs Arch Manning debate – having played with both quarterbacks last season.
Murphy, the Longhorns defensive superstar in their 2023 season, left the school to move on to the NFL this past year before being selected 16th overall by the Seahawks. The defensive tackle spent two years playing with Ewers at Texas, and one with Manning in his redshirted first season.
And while Manning was given little opportunity on the field in his first year with the school, Murphy was incredibly impressed by what he saw from the phenom prospect in practice.
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Speaking on a podcast with fellow Seahawks teammate Johnathan Hankins, Murphy had reminded him that Ewers remains the starting quarterback. However, his face lit up when he spoke about Manning.
He said: “The things you see him doing (during his two impressive starts)… he has been doing that in practice since he arrived. It’s just that you guys didn’t see it, he’s been doing that. There’s nothing new. He’s him, that’s Arch.”
Murphy went on to speak about his admiration for Ewers, having known him since playing against him in high school football in Texas, but did not speak as glowingly as he had when discussing Manning. On Ewers, he said: “When Ewers comes back they’ll probably give him the start. I loved playing with Quinn, he’s a field general. He’s a hard worker and he’s committed to the game.”
Arch Manning impressed Byron Murphy even in his freshman season while being giving little opportunity (
Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)
His words come as the debate rages on between which quarterback head coach Steve Sarkisian should be starting after continuing to declare that Ewers will be their man throughout the season – with Manning to take over in 2025.
Ewers struggled significantly in the Longhorns’ 30-15 loss to the Bulldogs, being benched for Manning at one point before the half before he brought his senior back in for the second-half. Ewers is in his final year of college football eligibility, and is expected to be a first-round pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, but many Texas fans have been clambouring for the school to start Manning after his incredible two games – when Ewers had been out with an abdominal injury.
In those games, Manning completed 70 percent of his passes for 12 touchdowns to just two interceptions. Meanwhile, Ewers has 11 touchdowns to four interceptions on a 68 completion percentage in five games. Sarkisian has been told he’s in a difficult position with the two quarterbacks and should not get stuck between which to play, as Nick Saban previously had with Jalen Hurts and Tua Tagovailoa in Alabama.
Steve Sarkisian has continued to state that Ewers will be the starter, but pressure is mounting with Manning ready and waiting for the call (
Photo by David Buono/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The aforementioned Murphy is having an impressive start to life in the NFL with Seattle, with 8 pressures in just four games from the defensive tackle position – ranking as one of the best rookies in the league, per PFF.
Texas returns to action on Saturday, set to face Vanderbilt (25) after dropping from the first-seed to the fifth.
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