Arch Manning Praised by Texas' Sarkisian for Handling of Criticism, '99% of Kids Would Have Melted'

Texas quarterback Arch Manning came under fire last year in his first season as the full-time starter, struggling out of the gate. But Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian thought he handled the adversity and criticism well.

"There's a lot I respect about Arch, but the biggest thing is I think he needed that adversity at the start of last season," he told Chris Low of On3. "He's lived a great life, and that's a credit to (parents) Cooper and Ellen and all the Mannings. He had a lot of things that came to him, a lot of opportunities, playing at Newman (a prestigious private school in New Orleans), and a ton of exposure. But in a lot of ways, Arch needed to get on the other side of that, which I think last season provided him. Yes, it was tough. Every show you turned on and all the articles were questioning him, and I always look for a silver lining when stuff like that happens. But Arch didn't get weaker. He looked at all that pressure and scrutiny right in the face. Ninety-nine percent of kids would have melted last year if they had to endure what he endured, and all Arch did was get stronger."

In Manning's first five games he threw for 11 touchdowns and five interceptions, and Texas was just 3-2, putting them in a hole they'd never fully escape.

But he was much better from there, leading the Longhorns to a 7-1 record the rest of the way with 15 touchdowns and just two interceptions. Texas missed out on the College Football Playoff, an overall disappointment given they started the season No. 1 in the nation. But they also played a brutal schedule, with games against four CFP teams and six teams that finished in the AP top 25.

Now the goal is simple—win a championship.

"I wanted a chance to play for a national championship, but I was more bummed for my teammates that I didn't do enough to win those early games, that I didn't play well enough," Manning told Low. "That was just motivation for all of us this offseason."