Arch Manning entered the 2025 season as a Heisman contender, but early struggles raised questions about his caliber. Though Texas’ late-season surge couldn’t secure it a playoff berth, Manning is back in Heisman conversations heading into 2026.
Steve Sarkisian is now using the offseason to recruit top talent to elevate Manning’s performance next season.
Texas in the Hunt for High-Scoring RB To Pair With Arch Manning
Michigan running back Justice Haynes entered the transfer portal after just one season with the Wolverines. With a single year of eligibility remaining, PFSN’s Terrance Biggs listed Texas as a possible destination.
“Steve Sarkisian faces a shortage at running back after the departures of Tre Wisner, CJ Baxter, and Rickey Stewart Jr., leaving Christian Clark and James Simon as the most experienced in the backfield,” Biggs wrote.
“With this being a pivotal season for Arch Manning, bringing in a veteran like Haynes could provide the Longhorns with needed balance and a player capable of closing out games by securing crucial first downs. Looking further at his portal options, we turn to Kentucky.”
Haynes currently ranks No. 36 nationally with an 80.9 score on PFSN’s College Football RB Impact metric. He might be a strong complement to Manning, who finished the 2025 season with 3,163 passing yards and 26 passing touchdowns and added 399 rushing yards with 10 rushing scores.
As for Haynes, he played in just seven games in the 2025 season due to a right foot injury. He recorded 159 yards rushing on 16 carries with 3 touchdowns and caught 2 passes for 6 yards in his Michigan debut against New Mexico on Aug. 30. His 159 rushing yards in the game were the most in a Wolverine debut since at least 1970.
Haynes rushed for 857 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, averaging 7.1 yards per carry. He had his best game in the 31-20 win against Michigan State in October, where he rushed for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns. He ran for 1,473 yards and 19 touchdowns in his three-season college football career.
Before heading to Michigan, Haynes spent two seasons at Alabama and earned two varsity letters. As a sophomore in 2024, he appeared in 12 games and carried the ball 79 times for 448 yards with 7 touchdowns while also catching 17 passes for 99 yards. He appeared in all 13 games, including six games at running back as a freshman, and also contributed on special teams, carrying the ball 25 times for 168 yards with 2 touchdowns.
As a four-star prospect, Haynes was ranked as the No. 34 overall player in the nation, the No. 3 running back, and the No. 3 overall player in Georgia, according to the 247Composite Rankings.