It’s safe to say the Arch Manning era hasn’t gotten off to a smooth start in Austin.
The touted quarterback has faced some challenges early in the 2025 season, raising concern levels for at least one NFL scout. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman recently spoke to college coaches and NFL scouts to gather their thoughts on Manning and other collegiate signal callers.
According to Feldman’s article, an NFL scouting director believes Manning’s sample size is still too small to determine what he could become at the next level.
“He’s talented, but he needs to get rid of what’s going on with him,” the scouting director said. “I don’t know if it’s all mental, but I do know he’s dealing with a level of pressure that nobody else we’re talking about is dealing with.
“We just need to see a lot more of him before anybody can make a determination about him. He just really hasn’t played a lot. It’s OK to be a little bit developmental and still have high upside. You just gotta let him develop.”
While Manning has made some positive plays for the ninth-ranked Longhorns, the quarterback is still searching for consistency. Manning has completed 61.3% of his passes for 888 yards, nine touchdowns and three interceptions.
His best game of the season took place on Sept. 20 when Texas defeated Sam Houston 55-0. He threw for 309 yards and accounted for five total touchdowns. The Longhorns are hoping Manning can take another step forward as their stretch of SEC play begins.
Manning wasn’t the only quarterback with local ties mentioned in Feldman’s report. Feldman also spoke to NFL scouts about LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier, who suited up at Flower Mound Marcus as a high schooler.
“I like him, and so do a lot of scouts,” an NFL scouting director said of Nussmeier’s 2025 tape. “I feel like there is a sense of overconfidence with him. I don’t know if he’s struggling because of their O-line (with four new starters) or if he’s just making bad decisions.”
Another NFL scout added that something “doesn’t look right” with Nussmeier. The LSU quarterback has thrown for 1,159 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions in five games.
Oklahoma’s John Mateer also received a mention, earning a familiar comparison from an NFL scout.
“He does remind me a lot of Baker. I don’t know if he throws it quite as well as Baker does, but I think he’s a better runner. And he plays with that same big chip on his shoulder,” the scout said. “I think OU needed that.”
Mateer is currently sidelined with a right hand injury. He underwent surgery for the injury last week.