LOOK: Texas Five-Star Plus+ QB commit Arch Manning recruiting 5-star LB Anthony Hill to Longhorns
New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Arch Manning is the crown jewel of Texas‘ 2023 recruiting class. Manning returned to Austin last weekend for the Longhorns’ game against No. 4 TCU, where he ran into Denton (Texas) Ryan five-star linebacker Anthony Hill.
That night, Hill and Manning took a photo with one another. Manning shared that picture over social media on Wednesday night with a simple message to Hill: Stay home.
Landing Hill would be a massive win for Steve Sarkisian and his staff. The former Texas A&M commit is the No. 18 overall prospect and No. 1 linebacker in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He is also the No. 3 player in Texas.
Meanwhile, Manning is the No. 1 overall prospect and No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 cycle, according to the On3 Consensus. He is rated the same in the 2023 On300.
For more Texas recruiting intel, check out Inside Texas.
Manning’s hopes may come true. According to the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine, Texas has a commanding lead for Hill’s commitment at 87.5%. Additionally, On3’s Sam Spiegelman believes the Longhorns are in a great spot for Hill.
“I think that Texas is in the driver’s seat with Anthony Hill at this point,” Spiegelman said during On3’s Inside Scoop recruiting show. “He wasted no time getting to Austin, and they’ve been in his ear ever since he committed to Texas A&M. That was a close call between two in-state programs. A&M got the edge, but Texas never took its feet off the gas. He spent a lot of time with Steve Sarkisian leading into the game, and I think that always say a lot when a head coach pays attention to not only you, but your mom and dad and little brother.”
Anthony Hill and Arch Manning On3 Scouting Summaries
The following are the On3 Scouting Summaries for Anthony Hill and Arch Manning:
Hill: “Downhill linebacker with good size and straight-line speed. Has starred for one of the top defenses in Texas high school football since his sophomore season. Combines his speed with a high effort level, resulting in a highly productive player at the high school level. At his best when he can use his closing speed as a blitzer or in pursuit sideline-to-sideline. Shows some physicality as a striker.
“Has one of the longer wing-spans of top linebackers in the 2023 cycle. Provides added value as a pass rusher and may eventually grow into an EDGE prospect down the line. Has a penchant for forcing turnovers and looks to strip the football often. Will need to continue improving his skills playing in space and in coverage.”
Manning: “Possesses a pure throwing motion with one of the quickest releases we’ve seen from a high school quarterback prospect. Those mechanics pair with a strong arm to make Manning one of the more natural and accurate passers in the 2023 cycle. Has the ability to carve up opposing defenses from inside the pocket or outside of structure when things break down. Shows innate field vision for his age with the ability to find open receivers while making second-reaction plays.
“An above average athlete for the position with polished footwork and the capability of picking up yards in scramble situations. Has filled out a big frame over his high school career, entering his junior year as the most physically developed top quarterback in the 2023 cycle. Also carries a substantial mental load for a junior quarterback with the responsibility of setting protections.”