Arch Manning chose to remain at Texas despite having opportunities to transfer and earn more elsewhere. As he continues recovering from foot surgery, Texas handled him carefully during the spring practice session on Saturday, April 18, taking a cautious approach with players returning from offseason procedures.
Manning, who took over as the full-time starter in 2025, finished his first year under center with 3,163 passing yards and 26 touchdowns. Despite missing out on the College Football Playoff following some early-season struggles, Manning capped the year on a high note as the Citrus Bowl MVP with a 376-yard, four-touchdown performance in a 41-27 victory over Michigan before undergoing a minor offseason foot procedure in January.
Arch Manning’s Spotlight Grows Harsher with KJ Lacey Gaining Momentum
With Manning seeing only limited action in 7-on-7 drills, fellow quarterback Dia Bell was also restricted after reportedly dealing with a noticeable limp during warmups. The reduced involvement from the top of the depth chart opened the door for KJ Lacey to receive a significant share of reps during the team’s open practice at Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium.
Following the session, analyst Blain Crain shared his thoughts on the burgeoning quarterback room. “The big thing with me when it came to Arch Manning really was arm strength,” Crain said. “You see a lot of balls started to get floated last year… It’s not even about Arch Manning at this point.”
Crain noted that the internal competition would only benefit the program. “If anything, you should feel fantastic because you have a guy behind him in KJ Lacey. Competition breeds glory. If you’re Arch, obviously you’re not going to get replaced. But just know if you slack off, your last name might be Manning, but there’s a bull waiting in the stable.”
Lacey took full advantage of the spotlight, delivering several eye-catching plays during the scrimmage portion. He connected with wide receiver Jermaine Bishop Jr. for a touchdown up the seam and later found fellow freshman Daylan McCutcheon for a red-zone score. Lacey’s ability to extend plays with his legs has many believing he now holds a clear advantage over MJ Morris for the primary backup role.
An outstanding high school career backs Lacey’s rise. He earned Alabama’s prestigious “Mr. Football” honor in 2024 while playing at Saraland High School. He arrived in Austin as the No. 18 quarterback nationally and is already pushing for playing time in a room led by Manning, who ended last season with an 83.1 rating in the PFSN College Football QB Impact Metric.
