Despite the expectation and criticism, Manning remained loyal to the Longhorns. He knows just how well he fits in Texas and he wanted to do things the right way. In response to the criticism that Manning has received, former NFL star quarterback Cam Newton spoke out and did not hold back on the young Longhorns signal caller.

In 2016, Allen’s most statistically successful season as a college quarterback, he threw 19 touchdowns on passes targeted 20 or more yards down the field, according to Pro Football Focus data. He averaged 13.5 yards per attempt and threw a touchdown every 5.3 attempts.

Ex-Patriots quarterback draws parallels to his own college experience backing up Tim Tebow at Florida, praising Manning's patient approach to development.