This Texas headliner is bigger concern for Tennessee football than QB Arch Manning – The Tennessean

This Texas headliner is bigger concern for Tennessee football than QB Arch Manning  The Tennessean

Don’t get caught up too much in the Arch Manning headlines for Tennessee's showdown with Texas. Yes, he has a recognizable last name as the nephew of iconic Vols quarterback Peyton Manning. He also has a five-star pedigree and a signature win over Ohio State. And he’s the most famous player in college football. Arch Manning is a good college quarterback, but he’s far from perfect. In fact, there’s angst in Austin over his accuracy issues and inconsistency as the 13th-ranked Vols (3-0) prepare to play No. 1 Texas (3-0) on Sept. 26 (noon ET, ABC) at Neyland Stadium. Putting Arch Manning aside, Tennessee’s bigger concern in this matchup should be the Texas defense.

It’s allowed three touchdowns all season and just 12 points per game under coordinator Will Muschamp, a familiar foe for the Vols. The Longhorns are loaded with projected NFL draft picks. That talent “gives them a lot of freedom do a lot of different things from pressure to coverage to rotation,” Tennessee coach Josh Heupel said at his weekly press conference on Sept. 21. An aggressive defensive coordinator, talented players and the stingy victory over previous No. 1 Ohio State have the Vols’ full attention and respect. “Texas obviously is battle-tested, a very veteran group,” Heupel said. “(It has) a ton of experience on the defensive