Texas quarterback Arch Manning is in the running to be the top quarterback prospect for the 2027 NFL Draft, and Manning had a mixed performance against Tennessee. Playing in a tough road environment, Manning threw some great passes but also had some frustrating and avoidable mistakes.
On the first drive of the game, Manning had a nice completion to start his game, working through his progressions and then firing a laser into coverage. Later, Manning threw a little floater of a pass, but it fell to Ryan Wingo for a 43-yard gain. It’s a good read with hope and location to help his receiver get open. That helped set up a short rushing touchdown. On the next drive, Manning made several mistakes, including holding the ball too long for a sack and then throwing a pass after crossing the line of scrimmage. On the next drive, Manning lofted a lofted pass along the deep sideline that dropped in a pass over coverage for a 29-yard gain. That set up a field goal for Texas.
Early in the second quarter, Manning threw a deep ball downfield to Cam Coleman in double coverage. Manning shows confidence in his receiver, but Coleman is bracketed with a corner in front of him and defensive back Kayin Lee on top. Lee gets into better position and makes a leaping grab on Coleman’s hands for a block. It wasn’t a great pass by Manning, but he was trusting his big receiver to make a play. Lee simply won the game with better position and played the ball. Just before halftime, Manning made another illegal forward pass, going over the line before diving down. So, it was a mixed opening two quarters as he made some good passes but also had some avoidable mistakes. After halftime, Coleman returned to make a nice pass on Manning’s underthrown pass. Manning had a rusher in his face, and he saw the ball well enough for Coleman to make the adjustment. That led to a field goal. Manning was lucky a throw late in the third quarter wasn’t blocked by tons of open grass for a pick-six from midfield. Manning stares down the receiver and leads the defender to jump the route for the pass breakup. In the fourth quarter, with Texas clinging to a three-point lead, Manning threw a strike to a wide-open Wingo for a key conversion. That helped set up the second rushing score. Manning finished completing 14-of-19 passes for 201 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception.
Overall, this tape doesn’t help Manning. While he didn’t dominate against Tennessee, he made some nice passes to help his team get a tough road win. Manning had some avoidable mistakes and took too many sacks. He needs to get the ball out faster and the process is faster. Manning needs to show more of an ability to take over games in the coming weeks.
In the first quarter, Simmons lined up as an off-ball inside linebacker behind the right nose tackle. After the snap, Simmons read the play well before using his speed to get around the left tackle across the line for a sack. Later in the second quarter, Simmons used a speed rush to get past the right tackle and the left guard bounced to grab quarterback Faizon Brandon as he started to step. While he initially avoided Simmons, other Texas defenders collapsed the pocket, and Simmons was able to adjust to Brandon’s scramble to bring him down for a sack. However, after the play, Simmons faked peeing on the Volunteers, and it was a first down on fourth-and-29 for the Volunteers offense from an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. It was a stupid penalty that took away good field position for the Longhorns offense.
Midway through the third quarter, Simmons had sacks on back-to-back plays. The first saw him go up, take down the left tackle, and go after Brandon. On the next play, he was off the ball at linebacker and spun around the line to get into the pocket and then adjusted to chase down and trip the mobile quarterback for his fourth sack of the game. Early in the fourth quarter, three Longhorns defenders hit Brandon, but he escaped in the flat. Simmons used his speed to chase him down from behind with a strip-sack. The ball rolled out of bounds, but Simmons’ fifth sack forced a punt.
It was a record-setting game for Simmons as he tied Texas’ single-game sack record and moved closer to NCAA history. Simmons is impressive, showing great speed, agility to break into space and redirect, to go with vision and instincts. This tape could help Simmons become a top-10 pick next April and he looks like a top-20 pick at worst.
Tennessee linebacker Arion Carter was great against Texas. He was a tackling machine and shut down the Longhorns’ ground offense. Carter had some outstanding plays, including a tackle for a loss in which he absorbed the pull of guard Brandon Baker, pushed Baker, and then took down the back. Carter also worked well in zone coverage in the middle of the field, covering ground and drawing receivers in his area. Late in the fourth quarter, Carter made a great play on special teams, diving on a loose ball to successfully secure an onside kick. Carter looks like a starting linebacker candidate for the NFL. The 6-foot-1, 240-pounder is a strong, physical run defender who is a good form tackler. Carter could be a second-day pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.