Austin, TX
What does Arch Manning's spring game performance mean for Texas?
AUSTIN, Texas — For those wondering how ready Arch Manning will be if called upon this season, the former No. 1 recruit provided plenty of encouragement Saturday.
In the most extensive playing time Manning has received in a public setting since signing with the Longhorns, the redshirt freshman looked sharp, confident and in command in a way that nobody outside the Forty Acres has seen since his arrival.
Manning’s performance during Texas’ annual Orange and White spring game — 19-of-26 passing for 355 yards and three touchdowns — was his best front-facing showing since he arrived at Texas. It will provide plenty of offseason fodder for observers to chew on until the Longhorns’ season opener arrives on Aug. 31. Some may wonder aloud if there’s a potential quarterback controversy brewing (there isn’t; Quinn Ewers is the entrenched starter heading into the season), but Manning’s accuracy and comfort level operating the offense should give Texas coach Steve Sarkisian peace of mind about what he has at quarterback heading into the fall.
There’s Ewers, a soon-to-be three-year starter, entering what is likely his final season on campus as a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate. And if he gets injured — which he has each of the last two seasons — or the Longhorns otherwise need another passer, Manning looks ready in a way he hasn’t since he enrolled in January 2023.
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Yes, this is just a spring game, and grand proclamations should be met with caution. But anyone who has closely watched Manning since his arrival could tell the difference in him from last year to this year. In his one meeting with reporters last year, before Texas’ Sugar Bowl loss to Washington, Manning mentioned the challenges in adjusting to the next level after never riding the bench in high school.
“Some days, it’s tough,” Manning said in December. “There’s hard workouts, hard practices, they expect a lot out of you. … Practice is way different. You’re in high school, and you’re kinda the guy, but in (college), practice, it’s tough. And I like it that way because they want what’s best for you.”
Steve Sarkisian has plenty of reasons to be happy about Texas’ quarterback situation. (Sara Diggins / USA Today)
With Maalik Murphy serving as Texas’ backup quarterback in 2023, there was a buffer that allowed Manning time to acclimate and develop. But after Murphy transferred to Duke in the winter, that buffer is gone. If Ewers goes down, Manning’s up next. If Saturday is any indication, it looks like the Longhorns are in good hands.
The talent and ability that contributed to Manning’s lofty recruiting status were on full display. He capably moved through his progressions, showed patience in the pocket, drove the ball with plenty of velocity and displayed laser-like accuracy on his throws. Of his first 20 attempts, only one didn’t hit a receiver in the hands.
Sarkisian was mostly encouraged by Manning’s progress in the pocket.
“The biggest thing I saw from Arch was something that we really harped on with him … playing the play, keeping your eyes up,” Sarkisian said. “When he gets himself in trouble at times at quarterback is when he relies on his athleticism, which he has a ton of and he can do. And there’s times today I blew the whistle on him, and I don’t know if he was really happy with me that I blew it, but he’s (in a) non-contact (jersey). But when he keeps his eyes up and steps up in the pocket, he can deliver those balls down the field, the way we like to play.”
GO DEEPER
What Arch Manning’s big day in Texas spring game means for QB, Longhorns
Some other takeaways from Texas’ spring game:
1. The biggest concern area for Sarkisian coming out of spring? The defensive line depth.
“We don’t have enough bodies,” he said. “There’s not enough big humans. … So we’ve got to address it.”
Losing T’Vondre Sweat and Byron Murphy — who combined for 941 snaps last season, according to Pro Football Focus — is the most difficult personnel loss the Longhorns must overcome. Their likely replacements, Alfred Collins and Vernon Broughton, have plenty of experience and were regular rotation players, combining for 692 snaps last season. But behind them is a lot of inexperience, in the form of Jaray Bledsoe (85 snaps), Aaron Bryant (51) and Sydir Mitchell (17).
Landing former Arizona defensive lineman Tiaoalii Savea in the transfer portal helped (he saw 381 snaps in 2023, including 350 on the defensive line), but it sounds like Sarkisian and his staff will seek more help in the portal soon. Could former TCU defensive tackle Damonic Williams, who recently entered the portal, be a potential addition? If so, it would go a long way toward addressing that concern.
2. The starting defensive line group made its presence felt immediately, as edge rusher Ethan Burke batted a Ewers’ pass, which Collins hauled in to return for a touchdown for the game’s first points. And while the interior defensive line depth is of concern to Sarkisian, he sounded confident in what Texas has coming off the edge.
“Our edge pass rush is real,” Sarkisian said.
Citing the return of Burke and Barryn Sorrell, the addition of UTSA transfer Trey Moore, the addition of five-star freshman Colin Simmons and four-star Zina Umeozulu and the development of Colton Vasek, there’s talent and depth that should make Texas both effective and consistent in rushing opposing quarterbacks.
“We’ve really tried to address that position, and I think it’s paying off for us, and it will pay off for us in the fall,” Sarkisian said.
3. If there’s a true freshman fans can get excited about based on Saturday’s game, it’s receiver Ryan Wingo. The former five-star recruit has received plenty of praise from Sarkisian throughout spring practice for the way he has made his presence felt, and that translated to Saturday’s game, during which he caught two touchdown passes and showed off his speed.
“He’s an awesome kid, he’s got great work ethic, he’s humble and shows up every day trying to get better. It showed this spring,” Sarkisian said.
4. The talent around Ewers in the passing game will look a lot different this year. Xavier Worthy, Jordan Whittington, Adonai Mitchell and Ja’Tavion Sanders are out. Isaiah Bond, Matthew Golden, Silas Bolden and Amari Niblack are in, not to mention returning young receivers like Johntay Cook, Ryan Niblett and DeAndre Moore.
All but Bolden — who arrives this summer — played Saturday and contributed. Moore flashed with his big touchdown catch early and seemed to have a strong rapport with Manning. Golden was used in the return game and on offense. Cook and Niblett got early action in the game.
Sarkisian liked the speed showed by Wingo and Bond, who transferred from Alabama. Sarkisian was encouraged by the contested catches Cook made. Golden, Sarkisian said, was “a little bit limited today” but still contributed.
Feeling out the rotation and who the Longhorns can lean on will be an important task in the coming months for Sarkisian and his staff. Worthy, Whittington, Mitchell and Sanders were reliable, experienced veterans, and even though the Longhorns hit the portal hard to add experience, this is the first time all of them are playing together.
“We’re going to have more than just a couple of guys that we can rely on,” Sarkisian said. “There weren’t many guys that had caught passes in DKR, in front of our fans, for our team. So how were they gonna respond, how were they going to play? For them to make some catches and big plays at critical moments, that’s something we can build upon.”
5. The number of big plays in the passing game was encouraging for the offense, but also a little bit of a concern for the defense.
Sarkisian acknowledged that with split teams and different combinations of players in the secondary, that things will happen, but he noted that it’s important to figure out “solidifying the back end and making sure we have the right combination of guys” in the secondary.
6. Another true freshman who stood out was quarterback Trey Owens, the Longhorns’ December quarterback signee.
Owens, a four-star prospect from Cy-Fair High near Houston, threw three touchdown passes and made impressive throws deep and over the middle of the field. Owens, who was a three-star recruit when he committed to the Longhorns but eventually earned four-star status, validated Sarkisian’s initial instinct with his performance Saturday.
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What’s it like to be the Texas QB recruit after Arch Manning? Meet Trey Owens
“Not to take a shot of those that put stars on quarterbacks, but I trust our evaluation, and we can probably recruit any quarterback in the country,” he said. “But Trey Owens is just really talented, and he can make a lot of throws. And so I’m very encouraged with where we’re at with the quarterback position.”
(Top photo: John Rivera / Icon Sportswire)
AUSTIN (KXAN) — Severe thunderstorms and flooding are possible in Central Texas Tuesday evening into early Wednesday. Here’s the latest forecast from the First Warning Weather team.
Here are the main headlines:
- A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for northern Burnet and northern Llano counties until midnight.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for central Williamson County until 9:15 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for Blanco, Burnet, northeastern Gillespie, northwestern Hays, southeastern Llano, northwestern Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 9:15 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Warning is in effect for southern Blanco, Hays, Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 10 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Gillespie, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties until 11 p.m.
- A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is in effect for Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Milam, Travis and Williamson counties until 1 a.m.
- The Storm Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 5 (slight) severe weather risk for all of Central Texas. Large hail and strong winds are the main concerns.
- The Weather Prediction Center has issued a level 2 of 4 flood threat for all of Central Texas.
- RESOURCES: Latest forecast | Radar | Rain totals | Download the KXAN Weather app | Sign up for severe weather alerts | 2026 weather data
Live updates
8:54 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for southern Blanco, Hays, Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 10 p.m. Winds gusts up to 70 mph and quarter-size hail are possible with this storm.
8:49 p.m.: Wind gusts are strengthening in Williamson County. The National Weather Service now says wind gusts of 70 mph are possible, which could cause “considerable tree damage.” A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 9:15 p.m.
8:51 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video heading towards Marble Falls.
8:35 p.m.: The National Weather Service said the severe thunderstorm in central Williamson County is now capable to producing ping pong ball-sized hail. A Severe Thunderstorm Warning remains in effect until 9:15 p.m.
8:20 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Blanco, Burnet, northeastern Gillespie, northwestern Hays, southeastern Llano, northwestern Travis and southwestern Williamson counties until 9:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
8:18 p.m.: Texas Game Wardens have been activated and are prepared to provide support in areas affected by the potential severe weather.
8:11 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for central Williamson County until 9:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
8:10 p.m.: KXAN’s Jordan Belt is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from Burnet.
7:51 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from just north of Burnet.
7:45 p.m.: A Flash Flood Warning has been issued for northern Burnet and northern Llano counties until midnight.
7:43 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for central Burnet County until 8:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
7:40 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwestern Williamson County until 8:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
7:28 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for western Burnet county and Llano County until 8:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
7:16 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Northeastern Burnet County until 8:15 p.m. Ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
7:06 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Southeastern Lampasas County until 8:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:56 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northern Williamson County until 7:30 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and half dollar-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:55 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in this video from just south of Lampasas.
6:45 p.m.: KXAN’s Grace Reader is monitoring the storms and sent in these photos from Marble Falls.
6:33 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for Burnet County, northern Llano County and northwestern Williamson County until 7:30 p.m. Ping pong ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
6:27 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northeastern Williamson County until 7:15 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
6:12 p.m.: The Severe Thunderstorm Watch has been extended to include Bastrop, Blanco, Burnet, Hays, Lampasas, Lee, Milam, Travis and Williamson counties until 1 a.m.
6:11 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for northwestern Mason County until 7:15 p.m. Golf ball-sized hail and wind gusts up to 60 mph are possible with this storm.
5:54 p.m.: A Severe Thunderstorm Warning has been issued for western Burnet and central Llano counties until 6:45 p.m. Wind gusts up to 60 mph and quarter-sized hail are possible with this storm.
3:56 p.m.: The National Weather Service has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Watch for Gillespie, Llano, Mason and San Saba counties. It will be in effect until 11 p.m.
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Austin, TX
Austin shooting suspect named, timeline of terror revealed after teens’ alleged 28-hour, 12-attack rampage
Texas police have released the mugshot of one of the three juveniles arrested over the weekend in connection with 12 separate shooting incidents across Austin that injured four people, as well as a timeline of the alleged 28-hour rampage.
Cristian Fajardo Mondragon, 17, was taken into custody Sunday after allegedly partaking in a citywide shooting spree that left four people injured, struck two fire stations and triggered a shelter-in-place order in South Austin, the Austin Police Department said in a statement.
Mondragon was arrested alongside two additional suspects, a 15-year-old and a 16-year-old, police said. Their names have not been released due to a statewide law regarding what information can be made public involving juvenile suspects.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 11:30 a.m.
Officers received a report of a stolen firearm from a local business. Surveillance footage subsequently revealed the vehicle driven by the suspects had also recently been stolen, according to authorities.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 3:58 p.m.
Less than five hours later, authorities confirmed the first alleged shooting at a trailer residence. However, no injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 4:30 p.m.
Officers responded to another shooting at the Whisper Hollow apartment complex, in which multiple vehicles and an occupied apartment were struck by gunfire. Witness descriptions and surveillance footage of the suspects led authorities to believe the two shootings were connected.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 6:08 p.m.
Approximately two hours later, a third shooting was reported after witnesses observed a suspect wearing a black hoodie exiting a black sedan at another apartment complex and firing through the door of a third-floor unit, police said.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 7 p.m.
Authorities said that a group of suspects matching previous surveillance footage of the alleged shootings stole a Hyundai Elantra from a Motel 6 parking lot, with another shooting being reported just 90 minutes later.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:49 p.m.
Authorities said a suspect fired a gun into an Austin Fire Department station while firefighters were inside. Thankfully, no injuries were reported.
Saturday, May 16, 2026, 8:55 p.m.
Just six minutes later, authorities received a report that suspects matching the same description had fired shots from their vehicle and struck the windshield of an occupied car. One victim inside the vehicle was injured by broken glass, according to police.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:50 a.m.
Police said the suspects allegedly stole another vehicle, with authorities discovering a previous vehicle containing bullet damage abandoned near 1800 E. Stassney Lane hours later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 8:46 a.m.
Authorities received a report regarding a victim who had been shot in the back and stomach near 7409 Janes Ranch Road by a suspect matching previous witness descriptions surrounding the alleged shootings.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 9 a.m.
Shortly after, officers recovered several other stolen vehicles believed to be connected to the alleged shooting spree.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 10:46 a.m
A second incident involving shots being fired into another Austin Fire Department station was reported to authorities, with the suspects allegedly stealing yet another vehicle — a white Kia Optima — three hours later.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 1:44 p.m.
Authorities said two victims were shot in a drive-by shooting involving a white Kia Optima, with two additional shootings being reported within 20 minutes.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 2:29 p.m.
Authorities said surveillance footage showed a white Kia sedan approaching a victim before the individual fell to the ground with an apparent gunshot wound. The victim was subsequently transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries.
Sunday, May 17, 2026, 3:23 p.m.
About one hour later, officers with the Manor Police Department spotted the Kia sedan believed to be connected to the alleged shootings, prompting a pursuit in which the three suspects abandoned the vehicle and fled on foot.
One suspect was immediately detained, with authorities taking the other two individuals into custody separately after a brief search.
The incidents led to the injuries of four people and five vehicles being stolen, police said.
“At this time, investigators believe the incidents were a mix of random and targeted shootings,” APD said in a statement. “Some victims were known to the suspects, while other incidents appeared to occur without any known connection.”
Davis went on to describe the investigation as “complex” because of the sheer number of crime scenes, stolen vehicles and random shootings throughout the city.
Formal charges against the three suspects remain under review, but are expected to include aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated assault/motor vehicle, deadly conduct, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle, evading arrest, theft of a firearm and other related offenses, APD said.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Austin Police Department for comment.
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Monday, May 18, 2026 7:20 PM
The second-busiest commercial air carrier at Harry Reid International Airport is expanding service to and from Austin, Texas.
Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines will double the number of daily flights to and from the Texas capital to two beginning in the fall.
Demand for trips to Austin, which calls itself “The Live Music Capital of the World” and features multiple music festivals all year, including March’s SWSX multimedia event, is growing, according to Delta. The airline said it expects both markets will benefit from the service expansion.
Delta competes on the route with market leader Southwest Airlines, Frontier Airlines and Allegiant Air.
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