WATCH: Arch Manning outruns defense for 69-yard touchdown

With a special visitor in the house Friday night, New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman quarterback Arch Manning dazzled yet again.

The No. 1 overall player in the 2023 On300, Manning showed off not only his arm talent but also his running ability in front of Georgia head coach Kirby Smart. Midway through the first quarter against Berkeley Prep on Friday night, Manning kept the ball on a zone-read play, burst through the defense and outran everyone for a 69-yard touchdown.

Arch Manning showing off the wheels on a long TD run 💨💨 pic.twitter.com/daWgxFhUDy

— On3 Recruits (@On3Recruits) October 23, 2021

Arch Manning is the real deal

While his last name draws plenty of attention, it’s his on-field play that has made him must-watch TV. The youngest Manning prodigy is a top-two recruit in the 2023 class by every recruiting industry site, and his offers from Alabama, Clemson, Texas, Georgia and others back that up. In his first two varsity seasons, Manning threw for more than 4,300 yards and 55 touchdowns. Through five games this season, he has thrown for 1,186 yards, 17 touchdowns and just one interception.

Texas is in the lead for his commitment

Arch Manning has given away very little about the status of his recruitment, but he has taken visits to Georgia, Alabama, and Texas, and he will be at Ole Miss this weekend. A visit to Clemson is scheduled for November. He came away impressed by the Bulldogs and the atmosphere in Athens, including a group of students painting “We Want Arch” on their chests at the game.

Since then, the Bulldogs have ascended to the No. 1 ranking in dominant fashion. They’ve also continued to steamroll on the recruiting trail in 2022, which is by no means a bad thing when pursuing an elite prospect like Manning.

But as it stands now, Texas looks to be the leader for Arch Manning’s commitment a little more than a year from the early signing period.

He visited the Longhorns last weekend, and Texas has made a major impression. His relationship with head coach Steve Sarkisian is arguably the strongest of any he’s built. The Longhorns’ first-year head coach also visited Louisiana to watch Manning play last Thursday.

“(Sark) is a laid back guy, which I really like,” Manning said recently. “He’s not always pitching me. He just checks in and that’s one thing I like about him. When it is football, he’s a genius.”

According to On3’s expert predictions, Texas has the upper hand for Manning’s commitment, though it’s far from insurmountable.

“I like Texas at this stage,” Chad Simmons wrote. “Although he had very good visits to Alabama and Georgia this fall, and Clemson and Ole Miss are in this, Steve Sarkisian has really connected with Manning. The buzz really seems to be with the Longhorns. It is because of Sarkisian, his offense, and how he has recruited the No. 1 junior in the country.”