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Texas Longhorns Joel Klatt

Texas Longhorns: Joel Klatt Makes Controversial Take About the Quarterback Situation

The Texas Longhorns are the top-ranked team in the country after defeating the UTSA Roadrunners 56-7 on Saturday night. Another reason why Texas jumped to number one in the polls was because the Georgia Bulldogs barely escaped with a 13-12 win over the Kentucky Wildcats on the road on Saturday night.

Texas LonghornsJoel Klatt
Trainers tend to Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) during the game against UTSA at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

One of the biggest stories about the Longhorns entering the fourth week of the college football season is the quarterback position. Arch Manning is in line to be the starter after Quinn Ewers is out week-to-week with an oblique/abdominal injury. Manning torched the Roadrunners and was the co-SEC Freshman of the Week. Joel Klatt chimed in on the quarterback situation.

Joel Klatt Doesn’t Believe That There Is a Quarterback Controversy With the Texas Longhorns

Texas LonghornsJoel Klatt
Texas Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers (3) moves as defense from UTSA Roadrunners defensive lineman Christian Clayton (95) approaches in the first quarter of the Longhorns’ game against the UTSA Roadrunners at Darrell K RoyalÐTexas Memorial Stadium, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

FOX Sports analyst Joel Klatt talked about the Texas Longhorns quarterback situation on Monday on the Joel Klatt Show. He does not think there is a quarterback controversy for the program moving forward by saying:

“I don’t believe this is a quarterback controversy, but I do believe this is where people are going to go. Particularly, from a narrative standpoint. And in particular there. Because, let’s face it, a lot of people around Texas love to have an opinion. I’m glad, in this case, that Sark is unwavered by people’s opinion about him or his program. … If Quinn isn’t effective, he’s got a legitimate option. This is a win-win situation for Steve Sarkisian.”

This program has a very effective quarterback situation. Quinn Ewers is projected to be a first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft and some think that Arch Manning will be a first-round pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Ewers and Manning are both very effective in their own way.

Klatt Also Added About Manning’s Big Performance

Texas Longhorns Quinn Ewers
Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) runs the ball during the game against UTSA at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium in Austin Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024.

Quinn Ewers threw for two touchdown passes and 185 yards before he was injured on Saturday night. He was a potential front-runner for the Heisman Trophy, but this is going to affect it now. As for Manning, he had three passing touchdowns and 223 yards. Arch Manning also added a 67-yard touchdown run. Joel Klatt also added this about his touchdown run:

“What we saw from Manning, particularly running the football, was something I didn’t think he had in him. That was something pretty special. That long run was the longest touchdown run by a quarterback since Vince Young. That’s saying something, because Colt McCoy was damn good. … If you’re running over 20.5 miles per hour, hitting 21 miles per hour, some guys that are really fast can hit 22, 22.5 maybe even close to 23. Arch basically hit 21 miles per hour on his touchdown run. That blows my mind. Blows my mind! That’s like fast, fast. Not just regular ‘oh yeah, he can run.’ That’s fast, fast.”

It will be interesting to see what else Arch Manning could do for the Texas Longhorns with Quinn Ewers sidelined. Texas will face the UL-Monroe Warhawks in Week 4 before facing the Mississippi State Bulldogs in SEC Conference play the following week also.

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About Glenn Kaplan

Glenn Kaplan is a sports writer covering all things NFC East related and SEC related on Gridiron Heroics, mainly the New York Giants. He also writes for Wisconsin Sports Heroics.

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