BREAKING: Texas Lands Projected $496K QB to Compete With Arch Manning

Texas Longhorns Prepare for SEC Championship While Securing Top 2025 Recruit KJ Lacey

The No. 2 Texas Longhorns are gearing up for their inaugural SEC Championship appearance, set to take on the No. 5 Georgia Bulldogs on December 7. As the Longhorns aim for a conference title, they also made significant strides off the field during Early Signing Day on December 4, securing commitments from key recruits in the 2025 class, which currently sits at No. 1 in the 247Sports team rankings.

One of the biggest names to join the Longhorns’ 2025 recruiting class is four-star quarterback KJ Lacey. Hailing from Saraland, Alabama, the 6-foot Lacey is ranked as the No. 14 quarterback and the No. 163 overall player in the 247Sports composite rankings. Lacey, who boasts a $496k NIL valuation according to On3, has committed to Texas and is expected to add significant depth to the Longhorns’ quarterback room, which is already stacked with talent.

Lacey’s arrival adds to the already intriguing quarterback competition in Austin, where Arch Manning, the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2023, currently backs up starting quarterback Quinn Ewers. Ewers has played a pivotal role in leading Texas to an 11-1 record in their first season in the SEC, throwing for 2,307 yards, 24 touchdowns, and maintaining a 67.3 completion percentage.

While Ewers has yet to announce his decision regarding the 2025 NFL Draft, speculation is growing that he may declare for the draft following the conclusion of the college football season. His potential departure would open the door for both Manning and Lacey to compete for the starting job next year.

Manning, in his freshman season, has shown flashes of his high potential, filling in admirably for Ewers when the starter went down with an oblique injury. In his two starts against UL Monroe and Mississippi State, Manning guided Texas to victories, throwing for four touchdowns and 583 yards with a 68.3 completion percentage. He has produced a total of 13 touchdowns and 1,034 yards during the 2024 season, along with one rushing touchdown.

With Manning and now Lacey joining the ranks, the Longhorns’ quarterback position is primed for competition in the coming years. Texas fans are eagerly awaiting to see how the next chapter in their quarterback lineage will unfold, with the added excitement of potentially bringing in another top-tier recruit in 2025.

As Texas focuses on securing the SEC Championship and finishing their remarkable debut season in the conference strong, the future of Longhorn football looks even brighter with the addition of KJ Lacey to their already stacked roster.