Steve Sarkisian reveals different Arch Manning ahead of Ole Miss: ‘He is edgy’

Steve Sarkisian reveals different Arch Manning ahead of Ole Miss: 'He is edgy'.

Key points

• Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer.
• Arch Manning has endured a tough stretch during Texas' two-game losing skid, with multiple costly fourth-quarter turnovers costing the Longhorns back-to-back losses to unranked opponents.
• REQUIRED READING: Steve Sarkisian denies report Arch Manning's backup getting more first-team reps.
• Texas and Ole Miss kick off at 7: 30 p.m.
• He is edgy right now, Sarkisian remarked on Thursday when speaking with reporters.

As Texas prepares for its Week 8 matchup against No. 7 Mississippi, Steve Sarkisian remarked his second-year starter has practiced with an "edgy" demeanor this week, perhaps a response to the climbed pressure and criticism that have followed the Longhorns' recent struggles and double-digit collapses.

"And I like it. He is edgy right now, " Sarkisian remarked on Thursday when speaking with reporters. "Somebody texted me today that we lost the 'aw shucks' kid, you know, and we've created something else. I don't know if we lost him, we created this, you know? We did."

". So we'll see what comes out of it. He's edgy right now. And I appreciate that regarding him."

Manning, who holds a 14-5 record as Texas' full-time starting quarterback, committed a costly strip-sack fumble late in the fourth quarter of last week's loss to Florida, a turnover that halted the Longhorns' comeback bid. In the aftermath, Sarkisian remarked he'd evaluate everything from an offensive perspective. It included Manning's status as the team's starting quarterback.

Sarkisian denied ESPN's report that Texas backup quarterback KJ Lacey Jr. Would see an growth in first-team reps with the offense when speaking with reporters on Monday, saying Lacey wasn't getting more first-team reps than he normally does in a given week.

On Thursday, the sixth-year Longhorns coach remarked he appreciates the "edgy" side of Manning this week as the Longhorns look to turn the page and keep themselves in the mix for the College Football Playoff as a two-loss team. He additionally hinted that Manning is anticipated to start against Ole Miss.

"The best way to fight back is playing good football with his teammates and enjoying playing good football with his teammates. And so I'm looking forward to watching him compete Saturday, " Sarkisian remarked.

According to Sarkisian additionally, manning has had a "good week of work" in preparation for the Rebels, whose defense ranks 10th in the SEC in scoring (29.71 points per game) and dead last in the conference in total defense (390.0 yards per game).

"I think Arch has had a good week of work, " Sarkisian remarked. "He's prepared himself well, but like the team, he needs to play well."

Texas and Ole Miss kick off at 7: 30 p.m. ET on Saturday at DKR-Texas Memorial Stadium.

Be sure to check out USA TODAY Sports' new College Football Unfiltered podcast, hosted by USA TODAY Sports columnist Blake Toppmeyer. You can stream on YouTube or download via Apple podcasts and Spotify. Share your feedback to support improve our site!

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