Latest comments from Alabama QB Jalen Milroe should be considered good news for Texas QB Arch Manning

One of the biggest college football stories early in the offseason was quarterback Arch Manning's decision to remain at Texas for the 2024 season despite the fact that Quinn Ewers will once again serve as the Longhorns' starting quarterback.

Manning, a former five-star recruit who attempted just five passes as a true freshman in 2023, will be a redshirt freshman this fall. But unless Ewers suffers an injury (or proves to be ineffective...which isn't expected to be the case), Manning won't step into the starting role at Texas until 2025 when he's a redshirt sophomore.

The New Orleans native admitted late last season, before the Longhorns' matchup against Washington in the Sugar Bowl, that it was tough to sit on the bench after starting throughout his high school career. Manning also acknowledged, though, that he appreciated the opportunity to continue his development while operating as a backup.

“There were a lot of tough days, I’m not going to lie,” said Manning of sitting on the bench as a true freshman. “I was never a backup in high school, so there were 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 the 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.”

If everything goes to plan for Texas this fall, which means that Ewers stays healthy and performs at a championship level, then Manning won't be a starting quarterback until his third year of college -- which is the same path that current Alabama starting quarterback Jalen Milroe took after arriving in Tuscaloosa in 2021.

Milroe didn't have the same hype surrounding him as Manning (Milroe was a four-star recruit who was rated as the No. 13 quarterback in the nation), but he still dealt with the exact same situation as a college quarterback.

Bryce Young, the No. 1 overall selection in the 2023 NFL Draft, was the Crimson Tide's starter for Milroe's first two seasons at Alabama (2021 and 2022).

Milroe, who was actually committed to Texas at one point, had a true freshman season that was similar to Manning's (Milroe attempted just seven passes in 2021) before seeing slightly more action as a redshirt freshman in 2022 (Milroe attempted 53 passes in 2022).

In 2023, Milroe took over as Alabama's starting quarterback with two seasons of "development" under his belt.

Milroe explained during a recent appearance on " Next Up with Adam Breneman " that he thinks those two years of sitting behind Young made him a better quarterback.

“Honestly, I think the best thing for me wasn’t playing initially coming into college,” said Milroe. “Learning from great quarterbacks that were in college football. Of course, firsthand, having Bryce here. But also quarterbacks in college football with how well they’re playing -- whoever was the top quarterback in the years that I wasn’t the quarterback, that was great for me not to play, be observant, look at football in a different lens because ultimately that got me better. Being off the field and learning. Growing with the coaches that we had here, because we have a lot of people that are knowledgable...so that was what I tried to do, keep building, because whenever my time presented itself, it was time to execute and make the most out of it.”

"When I came to the building, even when I wasn’t the starter, when I first got here, playing the right way, take care of my body, try to be physically in shape," added Milroe. "Getting physically stronger throughout the years, that what I tried to improve on so I can just say that preparation in the offseason and the time I’ve been here is honestly what catapulted me to where I am now.”

Milroe also acknowledged that not playing early in his career at Alabama was tough, but he noted that he's a better player because of the time he spent developing behind Young.

“The years before this year is what honestly got me to this position because the work is going to be done at some point,” explained Milroe. “And it was all about sacrificing everything now to get everything you want in your future. There were days that you’re full of tears, days you were hurting, bleeding, all that stuff was for moments like now."

There's no doubt that Manning is eager to play -- just like Milroe was at Alabama in 2021 and 2022.

But Manning is going to be a better quarterback because of the time he's spent learning behind Ewers. Manning's going to be better prepared for whatever comes his way once he becomes the starter because he wasn't thrown to the wolves as a true freshman.

The waiting, as Tom Petty famously sang, is the hardest part. But it's the waiting that's going to ensure that Manning will be one of the most well-prepared quarterbacks in the sport once his number is finally called. And he can look at Milroe's story as evidence that the waiting will eventually pay off.

Related: The NFL has the absolute perfect scenario already in place for Texas QB Arch Manning