Louisiana-Monroe Players Ready to Face Arch Manning, Says Defensive Coordinator
This Saturday, Arch Manning is set to make his long-expected first college start for Texas against Louisiana-Monroe. However, the Warhawks’ defensive coordinator claims the players aren’t too apprehensive about facing him.
In a discussion about preparing for Manning, defensive coordinator Earnest Hill noted that some of his team members have previously competed against Manning during high school. Manning played at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans, roughly 215 miles south of Louisiana-Monroe, and he did not clinch a state championship during his high school years. Therefore, Hill believes that since some Warhawks players have beaten him before, they approach this game without fear.
“We have players on our team who went up against him in New Orleans,” Hill mentioned. “So they’re not too intimidated by him. They won’t hold any fear against him.”
This statement by the Louisiana-Monroe coach comes as a surprise, especially after Manning’s impressive performance last week. When he took over for the injured Quinn Ewers, Manning threw for 223 yards, four touchdown passes, and added a rushing touchdown of 67 yards.
Although Hill provided some confidence with his comments, he also acknowledged Manning’s talents, mentioning that the young quarterback comes from a family with a rich NFL legacy.
“Manning has been brought up to excel as a quarterback. Both of his uncles have been very successful, so he’s received the right kind of training. He’s attended numerous quarterback camps,” Hill stated. “He’s at Texas for a reason, and this is a chance for him to start a game and show his skills.”
The kickoff for the match between the two teams is scheduled for 8 p.m. ET on Saturday in Austin, Texas. According to BetMGM, Texas is favored to win by 44.5 points against Louisiana-Monroe.