NCAA Spotlight: Arch Manning’s Fellow Texas Quarterback Could See Cam Ward-Type Rise in 2026 NFL Draft…
By SportsEdge Daily, June 2025
As the dust begins to settle from the high-stakes drama of the 2025 NCAA football season, all eyes are once again turning toward the quarterback room at the University of Texas. While the spotlight continues to shine on Arch Manning—an already iconic figure with a name steeped in football royalty—it is his fellow quarterback who is quietly crafting a trajectory that might just emulate the meteoric rise of Cam Ward.
If early projections and industry whispers are to be believed, Texas could produce not just one, but two elite quarterback prospects for the 2026 NFL Draft. The quarterback in question? A dual-threat talent who, like Cam Ward in his transition from Incarnate Word to Washington State, is proving that late bloomers and under-the-radar talents can soar into first-round conversations with the right mix of development, scheme fit, and timing.
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The Rise of Cam Ward: A Blueprint for Breakouts
To understand the magnitude of what may be unfolding in Texas, it’s worth revisiting the Cam Ward story. Ward entered the college football world as a lowly recruited QB, playing for Incarnate Word in the FCS. With a potent combination of arm strength, poise, and mobility, he became one of the most dynamic players in the country. His transfer to Washington State in 2022 was met with skepticism, but he quickly silenced critics by lighting up Pac-12 defenses and showcasing an NFL-ready skillset.
By 2024, Ward’s draft stock soared. Once a long-shot prospect, he climbed into Day 2 discussions—and by the time the 2025 NFL Draft came around, many believed he had top-15 potential. His rise was a case study in player development, persistence, and perfect timing. And now, the NCAA landscape is bracing for the possibility of another such ascent—from the same state, and possibly the same team.
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Meet the Maverick: The “Other” QB in Texas
While Arch Manning has received the lion’s share of attention since arriving in Austin, his teammate—identified in some circles as Malik Murphy, though some insiders speculate a younger, incoming talent is also making waves—has steadily carved out a place as a legitimate NFL-caliber signal-caller. Standing tall at 6-foot-5 with a cannon for an arm, Murphy (or a similar player on Texas’ depth chart) has shown flashes of brilliance when given the opportunity.
During spring practices and limited appearances in the 2024-25 season, this quarterback displayed not only raw physical tools, but a mature command of the Longhorns’ offense under Steve Sarkisian. What’s more, he’s shown the ability to make tight-window throws, extend plays with his legs, and read defenses at an advanced level.
While Manning often operates with the grace and poise expected from a third-generation quarterback, this fellow Texas QB brings a grittier, more improvisational style that has drawn comparisons to Cam Ward, Josh Allen, and even a young Colin Kaepernick.
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2025 Season: The Launchpad
With the upcoming 2025 college season being a crucial year for draft stock building, insiders are already highlighting this Texas QB as one of the most intriguing watch-list players. If he sees playing time—whether due to injury, rotation, or a package-specific role—NFL scouts will be ready.
Should Arch Manning declare for the draft after the 2025 season (a likely scenario given his pedigree and progress), this would open the starting job for 2026. In that case, this fellow quarterback would have a full season to showcase his skillset as a starter in one of the nation’s most visible programs. That’s the same path that allowed Cam Ward to leap into national relevance—and there’s little reason to believe history couldn’t repeat itself.
The difference here? The Texas QB will have had years learning under Sarkisian and sitting behind Manning, a luxury most breakout players like Ward never had.
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NFL Scouts Weigh In
Speaking anonymously, one NFC West scout told SportsEdge Daily, “Everyone talks about Arch—and for good reason—but the guy behind him might be the bigger riser when it’s all said and done. He’s got the frame, the arm, and that mental toughness you want in an NFL starter.”
Another AFC scout noted that, “He reminds me of Cam [Ward] in terms of how he throws on the run and reads blitzes. If he starts a full season, he could easily become a top-50 pick. And with the right year? First round.”
These types of comparisons aren’t handed out lightly. It speaks to the upside and intrigue surrounding the Longhorns’ quarterback room. It also signals the growing recognition of what NFL teams value in the modern era: physical traits, adaptability, mental toughness, and the ability to produce in high-leverage moments.
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The Sarkisian Effect
Another factor working in favor of this potential breakout star is Steve Sarkisian’s system—a quarterback-friendly, pro-style spread offense that emphasizes timing, reads, and downfield aggression. It’s no coincidence that quarterbacks under Sark have historically flourished, from Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones at Alabama to Quinn Ewers and Arch Manning in Austin.
If this QB is next in line to start in 2026, he will have the benefit of working in a system designed to prepare passers for the NFL, coached by one of the best quarterback minds in college football.
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Projection: 2026 NFL Draft Outlook
Projecting into 2026, the quarterback class is still murky. Much of the focus will likely center on players like Colorado’s Shedeur Sanders (if he stays), Georgia’s Dylan Raiola, and possibly Arch Manning himself. But that creates an opening for a “surprise riser”—someone who begins the season with a lower profile and ends it as a household name.
Cam Ward did it in 2023. Joe Burrow did it in 2019. Zach Wilson in 2020. The pattern is clear: a strong, out-of-nowhere campaign by a highly talented quarterback can skyrocket a player into the early rounds.
And right now, that exact scenario seems to be unfolding in Texas.
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Final Thoughts
While Arch Manning remains the present and likely future of the Texas Longhorns—at least until he declares for the NFL Draft—the story quietly brewing behind him may become just as compelling. A fellow quarterback, growing in the shadows and learning under elite tutelage, could be the next great breakout story in college football.
And if he follows in Cam Ward’s footsteps—developing steadily, seizing his moment, and delivering under pressure—the 2026 NFL Draft might feature another Longhorn quarterback hearing his name called early…perhaps even before the draft’s first night ends.
One thing is certain: the quarterback room in Austin is not just loaded—it might be historic.
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