The college football season is around the corner and all eyes are on the Texas Longhorns and Arch Manning.
Many NFL franchises will also be tuned into the young Manning as he is projected to be the next great quarterback from his talented family tree.
So much so that he is projected to be a top pick in next year’s draft, even going as high as number one. Except there is one problem.
Manning may stay at Texas for another year and brush off the draft until 2027, at least according to his grandfather, the great Archie Manning. When it was suggested that his grandson will declare for the draft after this season, the elder Manning made a definitive statement.
“Arch isn’t going to do that,” the elder Manning said, via S.C. Gwynne of Texas Monthly. “He’ll be at Texas.”
That sounds pretty cut and dry, and if there was anyone who knows how to handle their family going into the NFL, it’s Archie.
He noted that he did not speak directly to Arch about his decision, but that is what he believes will happen. After all, two of his sons, Arch’s uncles, Peyton and Eli, stayed for the entirety of their college careers at Tennessee and Ole Miss, respectively.
The front office of the Cleveland Browns and New Orleans Saints probably didn’t like what was coming out of the 76-year-old’s mouth.
The duo are projected to be two of the worst teams this year in the NFL and have very poor quarterback situations.
However, Browns owner Jimmy Haslam wouldn’t be too surprised about Archie’s claim, considering he said something of the same vein a few weeks back.
Haslam also doesn’t even believe the young Manning will be on an NFL roster next season.
“You’re in the business and you get paid by how many hits you get,” Haslam told the media at training camp. “I think if you know the Manning family, I would bet — and I don’t know Arch at all — I bet he stays in college two [more] years.
“I don’t even think that’s worth discussing.”
Haslam can say all he wants, but best believe he will have his scouting department watch every snap of Manning’s this season.
The 21-year-old is of course no sure thing, no matter how talented his bloodline was. This is the first season he enters the year as a starter, and still has everything to prove.
There were flashes of it last year, when he came in for Quinn Ewers, either due to injury or blowouts, where he threw for 939 yards with nine touchdowns and two interceptions.
In an un-Manning-like fashion, he also rushed for 108 yards with four touchdowns on the ground. The talent and skill is no doubt there; it’s just a matter of if he can pull it all together.
Chances are very high that he can and will, but he will need to show it.
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He will have an opportunity to do so right out of the gate, as Texas travels to Columbus, Ohio to take on the defending national champion, Ohio State Buckeyes.
The USA Today Coaches Poll was released, and Texas clocked in at No. 1, while Ohio State was right behind them at No. 2. The battle between the two titans is set to be one of the most anticipated openers in college football history.
Manning will be leading the Longhorns into battle, and if his grandfather is to be believed, he will be doing many more battles in the burnt orange.
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