As Texas prepares for its Week 4 clash, all eyes are on a couple of starters who might be standing on shaky ground if their performances don’t take a sharp turn upward. The first name to watch is quarterback Arch Manning. After a rocky start to the season, marked by inconsistency and missed opportunities, Manning is under pressure to prove he can command the offense effectively. With backup Maalik Murphy waiting in the wings and Steve Sarkisian making it clear that production matters more than reputation, Manning’s leash could be shorter than expected if he doesn’t deliver this weekend.
Another player who could be in danger is running back CJ Baxter. Despite his raw talent, Baxter has struggled to stay healthy and hasn’t showcased the explosiveness many expected heading into the season. His recent hamstring issue gave other backs like Jaydon Blue and Tre Wisner more opportunities, and both have shown flashes of reliability and playmaking ability. If Baxter doesn’t remind the coaching staff why he was the projected feature back, he could find himself losing touches to his more durable and in-form teammates.
In short, Week 4 will be a make-or-break moment for both Manning and Baxter. Texas has depth at key positions, and Sarkisian isn’t shy about rewarding production over potential. If these two can’t impress against Sam Houston, they may see their starting roles slip away as the Longhorns continue to chase consistency and dominance in their lineup.
Would you like me to also highlight potential replacements for each starter who could step up if they don’t?
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