Texas plans more first-team reps for KJ Lacey Jr. as Arch Manning struggles before Ole Miss

Arch Manning is still the starting quarterback at Texas. His backup is about to get a longer look in practice.

Texas is expected to give redshirt freshman KJ Lacey Jr. more first-team reps this week, according to a report on Monday. The move raises the chance that Lacey could replace Manning if he struggles again when No. 19 Texas hosts No. 7 Ole Miss on Saturday.

"I need a better version"

Coach Steve Sarkisian did not pull any punches about where his quarterback stands.

"Arch can play better for us," Sarkisian said Monday. "He's our starter. But I need a better version of Arch Manning."

He said he had a good meeting with Manning on Sunday and liked what he saw the next day. "He came out today [and] he's got a chip on his shoulder," Sarkisian said. "I liked it."

Sarkisian added that Lacey gets first-team reps every week. Asked if that number would go up he stayed vague. "Not to me, but we'll find out as the week goes," he said.

Two losses in a row

Texas has dropped back-to-back games to Oklahoma and Florida and sits at 4-2. Manning threw two costly fourth-quarter interceptions in the loss to Oklahoma. Against Florida he completed 14 of 20 passes for 173 yards and then fumbled in the final two minutes, which let the Gators close out the comeback.

Sarkisian also pointed at himself. He called one of his own play calls on Saturday "crummy" and said nobody on offense was perfect. The offensive line has struggled and the Texas run game ranks near the bottom of the SEC at 3.6 yards per carry.

Manning entered the season as one of the faces of college football. He ranks 10th in the SEC in completion percentage at 63.9% with 11 touchdown passes and five interceptions.

Who is KJ Lacey Jr.?

Lacey has thrown just nine passes in his college career. He is listed at 6 feet and 188 pounds and is the No. 2 passer in Alabama high school history with 10,985 yards. Sarkisian said this summer that Lacey has a lot of qualities that remind him of Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young.

Another blow on defense

Texas also expects to be without star pass rusher Colin Simmons against Ole Miss because of a high ankle sprain. The injury is considered week-to-week. Sarkisian said an update would come on Wednesday's SEC availability report.