Since stepping foot in Austin, expectations for Arch Manning have been high. The Longhorns signal caller has been seen as a potential NFL star and has frustrated defensive coordinators at the college level. That is partly because of who Manning has learned from and the players he models his game after.
On Monday, Manning revealed that Bills star QB Josh Allen is one player that he watches and models his game after. When speaking with the media, Manning said, "Josh does a good job using his legs when he needs to. I think sometimes I don't need to take unnecessary hits."
Arch Manning has told us he watches and models his game after Josh Allen.. I asked Arch how would he compare the way Josh uses his legs to how he would want to "Josh does a good
job using his legs when he needs to, I think sometimes I don't need to take these unnecessary hits"… pic.twitter.com/B4o7yzbfDj
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) September 21, 2026
While Manning has made headlines with his arm, like Allen, he has also been a threat with his legs. The Louisiana native has 597 rushing yards in 28 career games. He has recorded 10 touchdowns in that span, including a career high last season. His ability to impact a game in multiple ways makes the Longhorns hard to plan against.
Although the 2026 season is far from over, Manning is seen as a potential NFL Draft pick next year. For teams in need of a franchise quarterback, Manning will be a popular option, especially if he continues to improve. If the Isidore Newman High alum ends up being as good as Josh Allen, any NFL team would have a bright future with Manning leading the way.
I asked Arch Manning who he models his game after, he named two pros...
— Cory Mose (@Cory_Mose) June 27, 2025
"I'm watching a lot of Josh Allen and Joe Burrow right now. Those are my guys"
He went on to say he's been watching their tape from college recently @davideckert98 with the follow up question#HookEm |… pic.twitter.com/j1eGx0AvEJ
Over the next few months, Manning will be a player to watch as the Longhorns chase a national title. If Manning continues to model his game after Allen, then the rest of the 2026 campaign will be full of unforgettable moments.
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This article originally appeared on Longhorns Wire: Texas QB Arch Manning draws inspiration from NFL star
