Manning's heroic comeback bid ends with a hard hit. His concussion protocol status now puts the backup QB in the spotlight.
After leading the offense to a miraculous 17-point comeback in the fourth quarter against Mississippi State, Arch Manning scrambled for a first down on the first play of overtime. Leaping for a dive with little regard for his body, a Bulldog defender would make questionable helmet-to-helmet contact as Manning hit the ground.
And in a season that’s seen Manning get up no matter what sort of punishment he takes, he stayed down.
On Monday, Oct. 27, Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian confirmed that Manning had entered concussion protocol.
“He’s in protocol right now,” Sarkisian said. “We’ll have more information as the week goes.”
While it’s not unusual to see players return a week after suffering a concussion, it’ll be an uphill climb if Manning wants to return against Vanderbilt.
The NCAA concussion protocol is a six-step checklist that typically takes a day or more to clear each step. If any symptoms are to return in the process of the protocol, Manning will be required to revert to the previous steps. Barring any major setbacks, Manning will have to undergo step four–non-contact practice–by Thursday at the latest if he wants to play against Vanderbilt.
As Manning continues to recover from the head injury, backup quarterback Matthew Caldwell took first-team reps at practice on Monday. Later that day, Sarkisian took the time with media personnel to calm any concerns over the backup's ability to replace Manning.
“I thought he had a great practice today,” Sarkisian said. “I think the players have a lot of confidence in him. I think it's his maturity, his approach. You know, he's very engaged, even when he doesn't play. If you ever watched our sidelines during the game, (Caldwell) is probably the most engaged player on our sidelines."
While Caldwell may not have Manning beat in terms of athletic tangibles, he makes up for it with experience. With a handful of reps under his belt at Gardner-Webb and Troy, Caldwell is used to the bright lights of NCAA football. And while neither of those schools receives the attention that Texas does, Sarkisian believes it won't matter for the senior.
"It didn't seem too big for him here,” Sarkisian said. “He didn't feel entitled by any means. He was a guy who just wanted an opportunity, and that's what we were looking for. Someone who had taken some snaps in college football. He's making the most of his opportunities. He's played well every time that we've put him in the game. Whether it's been at the end of games, with the long runs, with the passes. Whether it's been at Florida, where he had to come in and throw a ball to Ryan Wingo on an in-cut, whether it was this game. What gives me confidence is who he's been, so we feel very comfortable with Matt whenever he's in the ball game."
Fans will have to wait until Wednesday when the SEC releases its official injury report to hear about the status of Manning.