BYU’s string of facing backup quarterbacks will continue this week.
Texas starter Quinn Ewers hurt his shoulder against Houston and will miss at least one game. The timeline for his return is unclear.
“Week to week at this point,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said on Monday. “At this point, you never know how bodies respond to injury.”
For BYU’s purposes, the injury means it will see backup quarterback Maalik Murphy. He has attempted just eight passes in his career and saw his first significant action in relief of Ewers last Saturday.
“I thought he showed great poise and composure,” Sarkisian said. “I know it became kind of a running game in that situation. But to handle that situation on the road, I was really impressed with him.”
Heralded freshman Arch Manning will back up Murphy against BYU. He’ll get a significant portion of the reps in practice, but isn’t expected to play.
Manning, the highest-rated player in last year’s recruiting class, hasn’t seen the field this year.
“Arch and Malik will both get a ton of reps. If the game was played today, Malik would start the game,” Sarkisian said. “And Arch will be ready to go. Like I said before, I have a ton of confidence in Arch. I think it was a couple of weeks ago, he had a fantastic practice.”
Murphy is 6-foot-5 and in his second season in Sarkisian’s system. He wasn’t as highly recruited as Manning, but still ended as a four-star quarterback from California with offers to Penn State, Texas A&M and Alabama.
“He is a natural passer,” Sarkisian said of Murphy. “He throws a really good ball, a beautiful ball. There isn’t a throw that he can’t make.”
BYU’s record against backup quarterbacks has been mixed this year. Against TCU, Josh Hoover threw for nearly 450 yards and four touchdowns. But facing Texas Tech quarterback Jake Strong, the Cougars forced three interceptions and five turnovers.
