No name is going to be discussed more in the 2023 class than Arch Manning. Son of Cooper, uncle of Peyton and Eli, one of football’s biggest royal families is once again the topic of the recruiting world.
Manning is one of four players in the ’23 cycle Rivals has already ranked as a five-star prospect. On the 247Sports composite, he is the No. 3 player in the country and the top quarterback, regardless of being a pocket passer or dual-threat.
Texas is squarely in the running for the New Orleans native, much in thanks to Steve Sarkisian. The Manning family connected with him during his time in Tuscaloosa and have expressed interest in a school not in the SEC – something we have never seen before.
Nobody has been working harder on Manning publicly than Texas’ sole 2023 commit Rueben Owens. His goal is to bring the top quarterback in the country to Austin with him.
Owens connected with Manning on Saturday, posting a picture on Twitter and tagging Director of Recruiting Brandon Harris. The running back pulled a Kirk Cousins, saying “you like that ?”.
BU X Arch 😬😬 @B6Harris you like that ? pic.twitter.com/N1NDCgPalY
— Rueben Owens ll #BlackUnicorn (@ii_rueben) April 11, 2021
Harris indirectly responded, saying he was more than fine with the two connecting. Shannon Sharpe seemed okay with it as well.
— B. Harris (@B6Harris) April 11, 2021
Texas’ future quarterback room is still up in the air. Hudson Card and Casey Thompson are still battling it out for the starting job this season, while Maalik Murphy is the current quarterback commit of the 2022 class. Since he is seen as a developmental project, another quarterback will be needed.
Of course, there is always a certain blonde-haired prospect from Southlake Carroll. Is anything going to come from that camp? Sarkisian has until December to do so.
Whenever Arch Manning decides to shut down his recruitment, it will be the biggest story in the sports world. Nothing moves the needle in the football world quite like the Manning family.
If Texas ends up being the choice, you have to believe the ’23 class will take off.