The prodigy Arch Manning, in the tradition of his uncles Peyton and Eli

A new star from the esteemed Manning family is shining brightly at the University of Texas. The young quarterback Arch is impressing in the NCAA and seems destined for a fairly promising professional career.

The apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Arch has been immersed in the world of oval balls since his early childhood. Following in the footsteps of a line of exceptional quarterbacks, he attempts to write his own history after two generations that have left their mark on the National Football League (NFL).

His grandfather Archie distinguished himself with the Saints of New Orleans during the 1970s, then his uncles Peyton and Eli each won two Super Bowl rings during the 2000s, with Sheriff also being inducted into the American Football Hall of Fame.

Big shoes to fill, you say? That’s the least we can say. Stratospheric expectations that Arch has managed to cope with so far, but this is only the beginning. They will only increase as his exploits on the field progress.

Arch’s prowess already deserves special attention, which is increased tenfold by his lineage, while the Manning name resonates strongly in American football.

His track record at Isidore-Newman high school speaks for itself. He rewrote a few pages of the school record book during his tenure, including the number of touchdown passes and the number of yards accumulated by the air, marks that once belonged to Peyton and Eli.

While no one doubts that Arch has the makings of a passer, the 19-year-old prodigy is also quite gifted when his athleticism is called upon and he has to run with the ball. A skill that he does not hesitate to use at the appropriate time and which was missing from the toolboxes of his illustrious uncles.

The long process leading to its association with the Longhorns was scrutinized like that of few players before. All the renowned university teams were fighting for it, including the Crimson Tide of Alabama and Bulldogs of Georgia, among the trio of finalists before he announced his decision.

It goes without saying that Texas, with its rich football tradition, was a perfect place to welcome the latest member of the Manning family.

A first start in the NCAA

Peyton and Eli’s nephew arrived at Austin in a role to which he was unfamiliar, that of backup quarterback, behind his counterpart Quinn Ewers, at the top of the hierarchy. A necessary step to launch his university career in 2023.

Only five passes and three rushes were attempted by Manning in his first season at the University of Texas. Quite modest beginnings which did not encourage him to enter the transfer portal of the NCAAan avenue frequented by others.

Manning returned to backup duties this year, with coaches wanting to give him more reps in game situations when the Longhorns would dominate their opponents, which happened from the start of the calendar.

Then, an injury suffered by Ewers during the third game gave Manning the opportunity to get quality playing time, as well as two starts, which confirmed the high aspirations for him.

The athlete who will be eligible for the draft of the NFL from 2026 could not have wished for a better start to replace Ewers. His first pass resulted in a touchdown, one of five he contributed to in less than three quarters, and all without the slightest fear of throwing in deep areas.

The next two games, in which he played the starting role, first showed that Manning still had to refine his craft in the NCAAdespite a few brilliant shots testifying to the extent of his talent, and that the pivot had no difficulty adapting.

His second start was synonymous with a football clinic, probably the best performance of the week at his position across the American college circuit. In light of his recent performances, he is certainly ready to guide the Longhornsbut it will probably have to wait a little longer before running on a weekly basis.

Now that Ewers is nearing recovery and the University of Texas is enjoying a bye week, all indications are that Manning will hand the keys of the offense back to his teammate, a high-profile prospect who was also on the rise. all wood before falling in battle.

Ambitions are high in the camp of Longhornswell established in 2nd place in the university rankings, while they are eyeing a first national title since 2005, after being stopped in the final four last year.

Aims that will not diminish one bit, on the contrary, when Manning is called upon to lead the offensive unit at the University of Texas in 2025.