Kirby Smart praises Texas QB Arch Manning ahead of UGA-Texas

Georgia Bulldogs head coach Kirby Smart praised Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning ahead of the Georgia at Texas game.

Manning has started two games this season for Texas, but he served as the back up for Texas’s 34-3 win over the Oklahoma Sooners. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound redshirt freshman quarterback has completed nine touchdowns and two interceptions this season. Manning has passed for 901 yards and a QBR of 87.5.

“They’re both (Texas quarterbacks) really good. I’ll say this,” said Smart. “You watch the games that Arch (Manning) has played, he played really well. He did some really good things. I mean look at his numbers. He played and he comes out first couple plays against Mississippi State, ripping it and firing it in his first SEC play, and he played really good.”

However, Manning is not projected to start against Georgia.

“Quinn’s (Ewers) a great player, and they got a great quarterback situation because they’ve got two guys that both are capable of winning and playing well,” continued Smart.

Texas is expected to start quarterback Quinn Ewers, but if Ewers goes down, then there won’t be much of a drop off for the Longhorns. Manning offers a little more mobility than Ewers. Manning has 13 carries for 82 yards and three touchdowns this season.

Smart praised Ewers’ awareness and athleticism during his press conference on Monday. Smart notes that Ewers is quite similar to Georgia quarterback Carson Beck.