AUSTIN (KXAN) — Longhorns head football coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed Thursday that redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning will start Saturday against Louisiana-Monroe in place of the injured Quinn Ewers.

Ewers suffered an abdominal strain in the second quarter of the Longhorns’ 56-7 win over UTSA last week, and Manning dazzled in relief, accounting for five touchdowns including a 67-yard scoring run. It was the longest touchdown run by a Texas quarterback since Vince Young scored from 80 yards in 2005. It will be Manning’s first career start.

Sarkisian said Ewers “has made great strides” in his recovery. Still, Sarkisian wants to give his starting signal caller another week to heal for the Southeastern Conference opener against Mississippi State on Sept. 28.

“He’s been in really good spirits,” Sarkisian said of Ewers. “One thing I try to impress upon him is that all the goals coming into the season are still there for him. I think we have a national championship-caliber team and he’s the quarterback, so we still have that in front of us to go do that. With some of the games coming up, this guy is going to be in New York for the Heisman, whether he wins it or not, he has that ability. I think he can be a top-five NFL draft pick. Him not playing this Saturday is not going to impact any of that.”

It will be Manning’s first career start, and while it’s great for him to get that experience, don’t expect him to take over the offense if he plays well. Sarkisian has said time and time again that this is Ewers’ team. Manning is a talented player and once Ewers decides his time in college is done, then fans can expect No. 16 to trot onto the field every Saturday.

Sarkisian said running backs Jaydon Blue and Quintrevion Wisner would be “game-time decisions,” along with defensive back Jelani McDonald.

The Warhawks, led by redshirt junior transfer quarterback General Booty, will play their first road game of the season Saturday. ULM is 2-0 with wins over Jackson State and Alabama-Birmingham. The game will kick at 7 p.m. with the broadcast on ESPN+ and SEC Network+. The No. 1 Longhorns are 44.5-point favorites.

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