Former NFL MVP and Heisman Trophy winner Cam Newton came to the defense of Arch Manning amid criticism over his decision to spend two years as the backup to Quinn Ewers at Texas, saying that developing as a backup was a wise approach by Arch and his family.

Michael Shapiro is a sports reporter for Chron, covering the Astros, Rockets, Texans and every team in town. Michael is a Denver native and graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, and a noted fan of pull-up threes, wide-receiver passes and a good hot fudge sundae.

For the last 29 years, the Manning family has organized an instructional event for high school quarterbacks. The Manning Passing Academy has been held on the campus of Nicholls State University for the past 20 years, and the top quarterbacks in the college game are annually invited to serve as camp counselors.