Arch Manning
Look one class ahead and another top-level quarterback has an interest in Texas. Arch Manning is a prospect every school in the country desires but only a few are going to have communication with him. According to 247Sports, Manning’s offer list is at 10. Alabama, Boston College, Duke, Georgia, LSU, North Carolina, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Tennessee, and Texas.
Son of Cooper, nephew of Peyton and Eli, Manning is the No. 3 player on the 247Sports composite. He stands at 6-foot-3.5 and weighs in at 200 pounds. Steve Sarkisian loves pro-style quarterbacks and the newest blood of football royalty fits the bill.
Do not let the term pro-style throw you off from athletic ability, though. Manning has the ability to escape the pocket and make difficult throws while moving. Watching his sophomore season Hudl highlights, somebody in the background audibly says “Oh my God” after a throw Manning makes on the run.
On the fourth highlight:
The Manning family is quite notoriously an SEC family. Arch (grandfather), Cooper, and Eli all went to Ole Miss, while Peyton went to Tennessee. Sarkisian and the Longhorns landing Arch would be quite the accomplishment. A visit to Austin is expected from June 12 to June 13.
Meeting him there will be five-star running back Rueben Owens. Owens has been recruiting Manning to Texas consistently. The running back was in New Orleans back in April, visiting with Manning. On Thursday, he once again mentioned the quarterback after the UIL track and field championships.
Positives: Losing out on Ewers would be a major blow. Getting a commitment from Manning would instantly bring a new jolt of energy into recruiting. An ideal Sarkisian prospect would be entering the program as well. Easy to see why Arch is going to be the next great Manning quarterback.
Negatives: He comes from the 2023 class instead of 2022. No matter who wins the current quarterback competition between Hudson Card and Casey Thompson, there is a real possibility a new starter is needed for the 2023 season. Would Texas rather have a true freshman or a player who has been in Sarkisian’s offense for a season?
Summary: Texas securing a commitment from Manning would send shockwaves throughout the recruiting world. Possibly even bigger than Ewers would. Prospects from across the country would be interested in the Longhorns, not just in-state. Fighting off other programs, mainly Alabama, is going to be tough. Not many people win one over Nick Saban.