Texas Adds Another QB to Room With Arch Manning
The Texas Longhorns had one of the more controversial quarterback rooms in college football this past season, thanks to the popularity of Arch Manning.
It was evident that Steve Sarkisian planned to ride with three-year starter Quinn Ewers even after Manning shined in his two starts when Ewers was down, but that didn’t stop fans from calling for the nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning all the way through Texas’ College Football Playoff run.
Texas’ season and Ewers’ career with the program ended in a 28-14 loss to the eventual champion Ohio State Buckeyes in the semifinal round. Ewers declared for the NFL draft shortly after, which means Manning is now the guy in Austin. While he won’t have to deal with the controversy of someone being called on to replace him, Texas did add another quarterback to the room.
As revealed over the weekend, the Longhorns added preferred walk-on Luke Dunham. The 6-foot-3 Austin native was given the opportunity this past Friday, according to On3’s Inside Texas. Prior to his commitment, Dunham held just one reported offer from Midwestern State.
“I was born and raised in Austin by parents who met at UT, so it’s always been my dream to play football here,” Dunham said to Inside Texas. “Also seeing what Sark has done for the program and where it’s at I don’t think there’s a better place to be if you want to develop as a quarterback and win a national championship.
” Dunham is a three-sport athlete who also excels at basketball and track. In his senior season on the gridiron, he racked up 3,313 total yards and 38 total touchdowns.
He will provide depth in a room that is headlined by Manning, Trey Owens and four-star freshman KJ Lacey.
Jameis Winston says he “wanted’ to go to Texas
During Super Bowl week, Jameis Winston confirmed that the University of Texas was his dream school, another quarterback recruiting miss late in the Mack Brown tenure.
Despite starting only 17 games over the last five NFL seasons, Jameis Winston’s celebrity continues to grow as fans latch on to his exuberant nature and love for football.
2013 Heisman-winning QB Jameis Winston speaks about his interest in Texas football as a high school recruit in the early 2010s
Winston, currently a free agent, spent Super Bowl week as FOX Sports’ digital correspondent, allowing his infectious personality to shine through various media coverage.
Well, there you have it—another confirmed quarterback recruiting miss late in the Mack Brown tenure. Add it to the list with Robert Griffin III and Johnny Manziel.
It’s hard to say whether Winston would have saved Coach Brown’s tenure at Texas. However, there is no reason the staff should not have pursued the Hueytown native more aggressively.
Winston was not a three-star prospect like the aforementioned RGIII or Manziel. Winston was ranked as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback and No. 16 overall player in the 2012 247Sports Composite.
In the class of 2012, Texas took the No. 4 pro-style quarterback and No. 175 nationally ranked recruit Connor Brewer, and three-star dual-threat Jalen Overstreet. Neither threw a pass in the burnt orange and white.
