In four seasons with Florida, quarterback Tim Tebow amassed 9,286 passing yards, 2,947 rushing yards, and 145 total touchdowns while becoming the first underclassman to win the Heisman Trophy and helping the Gators win two BCS National Championships. He left as the SEC’s all-time leader in career passing efficiency, completion percentage, and rushing touchdowns.
Paul Finebaum thinks Arch Manning’s upcoming season as the presumed starting quarterback of the Texas Longhorns could very well surpass the hype surrounding Tebow during his college career.
Speaking with On3.com, the SEC Network host said the expectations for the latest Manning to play SEC football might be higher than those of Tebow and fellow Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel.
“I believe that not since Tim Tebow have we had something that is aligned with Arch Manning. The expectations are going to be as wild as we’ve ever seen or at least since [Johnny] Manziel or Tim Tebow,” Finebaum said. “Maybe worse because of the current state of the media with social media.
“I don’t claim to know Arch Manning. I know everybody else in his family. I talked to his grandfather recently when we were in New Orleans, and I think there’s never been a player more prepared and ready for what he’s about to face.”
While Quinn Ewers was Texas’s starting quarterback for most of last season, Manning did start two games, winning both, and appeared in 10 games for the Longhorns over two seasons.
Given that Texas is coming off a season in which they briefly ranked No. 1 and made it to the College Football Playoffs semifinals, the hype will surely be through the roof for Peyton’s and Eli’s nephew. As for whether or not he can match Tebow and Manziel, we’ll have to wait and see.
To be fair to Finebaum, he’s not the only person making the Arch-Tebow connection.
