After a rocky start, Arch Manning finished strong, and NFL scouts are buying back in.
When Arch Manning arrived in Austin, expectations weren't just high ... they were historic.
He was hailed as the most anticipated quarterback prospect in a generation, the heir to both a famous football name and a program desperate to return to national glory.
But after a rough start to the 2025 season, critics pounced.
Manning went from Heisman hopeful to "college football's first flop" in a matter of weeks. The Longhorns stumbled out of the gate, and Arch looked far from ready. Whispers turned to shouts.
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Then something changed.
By the end of the season, Manning appeared to settle into the role everyone thought he was destined for. His decision-making sharpened, his confidence returned, and the Longhorns' season revived alongside him.
Now, the conversation has flipped once again.
According to Fox Sports' Ralph Vacchiano, multiple NFL scouts believe Manning could still be the top quarterback in the 2026 NFL Draft if he declares.
"He might still go No. 1 [overall]," one college scout told Vacchiano. "All the tools are there… size, arm, intangibles. He just needs a little more time to grow."
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Despite the early-season struggles, the traits that once made Manning a generational recruit have scouts reengaged. At 6-4, 219 pounds, with elite arm strength, mobility, and football IQ, Manning has the physical and mental toolkit scouts crave.
An NFC executive put it simply:
"Talent. He never lost that. The expectations were probably too high to begin with. But I can still see every bit of it."
Still, the consensus among evaluators seems to be that Manning's ceiling is sky-high, but his success will depend on the right situation. But isn't that true of literally EVERY quarterback draft pick?
"If you need a quarterback right now, he's probably not your guy," another executive said. "But if you can let him sit and develop? Like Mahomes, like Jordan Love? Then yeah, he could be special."
The buzz is back, but the big question remains. Will Manning declare in 2026, or return to Austin for one more ride?
Either way, the NFL is watching. Closely.