AUSTIN, Texas — Texas quarterback Arch Manning may be getting some wings with his new name, image and likeness (NIL) deal.
Energy drink company Red Bull announced its partnership with Manning on Thursday in a social media post, with the caption “target locked, wiiings secured.”
According to On3, a media and technology company, Manning is the highest valued college athlete in the country. The company estimated Manning’s NIL valuation at about $6.6 million, over $2 million more than the next closest athlete.
Texas fans are eagerly awaiting Manning’s rise to QB1 after he served as a backup to Quinn Ewers–who announced earlier this month that he was entering the NFL draft. This past season, Ewers led the team to the first year of the 12-team College Football Playoffs, but the Longhorns lost in the semifinals to Ohio State, who went on to win the national championship.
Manning started two games last year while Ewers recovered from a strained abdomen. He ended the 2024 season with 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
For sports fans, the Manning name is synonymous with quarterback excellence. Manning’s grandfather, Archie Manning, is a former NFL quarterback and was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame, while his uncles are former Super Bowl-winning QBs, Peyton and Eli Manning.