Vince Young and Mack Brown, two Texas Longhorns legends, give Arch Manning a lot of praise.

Arch Manning has stepped into the spotlight at Texas just as expectations around the program reach new heights. While his famous football pedigree and limited game action have drawn attention, what has really stood out recently are the words of admiration from two Longhorn legends: Vince Young and Mack Brown.

Vince Young, the Hall of Fame quarterback who led Texas to its last national championship in 2005, spoke about Manning on The Stampede podcast. Young praised Manning’s attitude, saying, “Very humble kid. First of all, he has won the locker room already, and then he has seen it from Quinn [Ewers].” Young drew parallels between Manning’s journey and his own experience—as a backup quarterback redshirting before taking over the program. That patience and preparation, Young implied, laid the foundation for Manning’s leadership now .

Young also recognized how arch Manning’s poise has been shaped by seeing Quinn Ewers face criticism and adversity. He said, “A lot of people don’t give Quinn the respect he deserves… When I saw that, I felt like Arch saw it too and it actually helped” SI. In Young’s view, observing Quinn’s preparation, resilience, and handling of pressure has helped Arch mature faster and win trust early.

Mack Brown, the architect behind the 2005 championship season, gave his own glowing assessment. On The Stampede, Brown compared Arch Manning to Vince Young at the same age, noting observational traits rather than raw physical tools. He said, “He also seems like he listens. He’s very humble. He said too much has been written about me, more than I’ve accomplished. I mean, he is kind of self-deprecating. But I like it. He’s a whole lot like Vince at the same age” .

This comparison may seem audacious, given what Young achieved at Texas—30–2 record, Rose Bowl MVP and national championship—but Brown emphasized similarities in character and internal maturity. He noted that Arch handled media questions at SEC Media Days with grace, reacting to external pressure not with defiance but with humility the same way Vince did years ago .

Texas fans remember how Young’s heroics elevated the program in 2005. He became a national symbol of toughness, dual-threat play, and emotional leadership. Brown’s point is not that Manning will replicate Young’s exact on-field style, but that Arch carries a similar mindset and self-awareness—a rare trait for a redshirt sophomore making the jump to starter.

Arch Manning didn’t just inherit a name. He earned praise for showing he belongs. As a backup in previous seasons, he threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns, and displayed explosive running—most notably a 67-yard touchdown dash against UTSA that showed he could be dangerous in multiple dimensions .

Both legends emphasized how Arch learned from watching. Young contrasted his own redshirt year learning the grind, practice habits, and mental framework with Arch’s similar bench-watching behind Quinn Ewers. He believes that preparation laid groundwork for Manning to lead confidently now that he is quarterback of the Longhorns .

Brown echoed that message, praising how Arch deflected praise and remained grounded, despite hype. He pointed to the anecdote that Arch said too much had been written about Brown an example of his humility and self-awareness .

That maturity has translated into support inside the program. Manning has reportedly earned the locker room over summer workouts, spring practices, and community events such as a football camp in teammate Ryan Wingo’s hometown .

Manning’s readiness now extends to the upcoming season opener on August 30 against defending national champion Ohio State. Just as Young did in big games the Rose Bowl included—Manning will face high stakes early on, and both Young and Brown seem confident he’s prepared for that moment .

For Texas, Manning represents much more than a starter. He’s a possible heir to a legacy built by figures like Young and Colt McCoy. Brown’s lavish comparison and Young’s endorsement signal genuine belief not just hope that Arch can flourish under immense pressure.

But both legends and fans know words aren’t enough. Manning must translate that character into performance in the SEC, including road trips to Ohio State and matchups in conference play. If he delivers consistently, the comparisons will feel earned. If he stumbles, critics may question whether hype flew too high too fast.

As the season approaches, the hype around Arch Manning continues to grow. ESPN’s FPI gives Texas the highest championship probability in the SEC at 24.1%, surpassing Georgia, Alabama, and others. That projection reflects both team talent and the confidence surrounding Manning’s leadership role .

When you hear a national title-winning coach and a Hall of Famer quarterback independently praising the same young signal caller calling him similar to each other—you know expectations are real and grounded. Manning has earned respect with mental maturity, humility, and poise traits that Texas leaders believe are key to winning in 2025.

In the end, Manning’s challenge isn’t to be Vince Young. It’s to be Arch Manning: carrying his own strengths, faith in his process, and the leadership that past Longhorn legends believe he already possesses. As Mack Brown said bluntly, Arch is “a whole lot like Vince at the same age.” If he proves it on the field, Texas fans will celebrate his own chapter in Longhorn lore.