The Texas Longhorns are in trusted hands if Arch Manning’s concussion keeps him out of his team’s Week 10 matchup with the Vanderbilt Commodores at DKR Stadium. Matthew Caldwell, as USA Today’s Eddie Timanus notes, has done well in his 11 pass attempts, which have resulted in eight completions and a touchdown pass to Emmett Mosley V during a 45-38 overtime win over the Mississippi State Bulldogs last Saturday.
Manning is listed as a game-time decision, but the Longhorns are expecting their starter to suit up and progress through the concussion protocol.
“Arch Manning’s frequent adventures outside the pocket have taken their toll as he is in concussion protocol and officially listed as questionable. If he’s not available, at least backup Matthew Caldwell has had some success in his limited snaps,” Timanus wrote.
USA Today’s Matt Hayes believes Caldwell getting the start against Vanderbilt could be a good thing for the Longhorns, who have struggled to put away Mississippi State and the Kentucky Wildcats. Hayes went as far as to predict a QB controversy if Caldwell plays well against Vanderbilt.
Could that happen? It’d be an unpopular and highly scrutinized move from Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian. Given that he didn’t back away from giving Quinn Ewers his eligibility’s worth under center, it’d be a left-field move for Sarkisian. Then again, his team hasn’t been this far away from the College Football Playoff since 2022.
Where did Matthew Caldwell come from?
Caldwell started off with the Jacksonville State Gamecocks but transferred to the Gardner-Webb Runnin’ Bulldogs to get a chance to start. He’s playing his final year of eligibility with Texas during the 2025 season.
Caldwell played for the Auburn High School Tigers in Lee County, Alabama.
Who is Texas’s third-string quarterback?
Caldwell’s backup is former Saraland Spartans star KJ Lacey, a Mobile County, Alabama, product.
