What Texas is getting in Arch Manning, according to his high school coach

Arch Manning is heading to Texas.

The Five-Star Plus+ quarterback out of New Orleans Isidore Newman announced the news Thursday with his first-ever Tweet, sending the biggest ripple of the season through the recruiting cycle.

Manning’s commitment is sending shockwaves around the country, but no one will benefit more than Texas.

Few people, if anyone, understand the impact of Manning’s commitment to Texas like his high school coach Nelson Stewart.

“He’s a great athlete and then you add the little nuances of the work ethic, the things you hear about,” Stewart told On3. “Whether it’s a zoom with a college coach, or how we collaborate on game planning how much he likes film and work, he has that it factor of loving the game of football.”

Manning is an athlete at 6-foot-4 and nearly 220 pounds with a 4.6 40-yard dash time. He also plays basketball and runs track for Isidore Newman.

On the football field, Stewart said his throwing release and his accuracy are two of his biggest strengths.

“When you talk about is ability throwing the football, his release is exceptional,” Stewart said. “It’s very quick. It’s so quick. When you see how fast the ball gets out of his hand, I’ve had to get used to it because whether it’s a bubble or your stop routes, he’s able to just generate velocity so fast, it comes out of the hand, you can hear a hiss.”

Arch Manning puts in a lot of time off the field

Off the field, Arch Manning is an invested student of the game. He loves learning more about concepts and breaking down film.

He is an organized and meticulous person, and those characteristics show themselves in the work he does when no one is watching.

“That’s been the thing this year I’ve really enjoyed is watching him get immersed in the actual game plan itself: the why,” Stewart said. “I’ve enjoyed putting more on him to watch him learn and watch him grow. He enjoys it. I don’t think he looks at his work. He loves football. It’s naturally something he loves.”

Manning’s recruitment has been notable for many reasons but one is them is the lowkey approach he took throughout the process. He is not a fan of social media and did as few interviews as possible.

Stewart said Manning doesn’t love the attention and adoration he receives because that’s not why he plays football. He plays football because he loves the game.

“He just wants to do things the right way,” Stewart said. “When you have a kid with that level of humility and talent and then work ethic, it’s pretty special. Obviously, he has a wonderful family. But I’ve certainly have never had a kid in that light that’s been able to exist the way he has without getting caught up in it or embracing it. He’s just been able to live his existence as a teenager.”

Stewart played at Isidore Newman with Arch Manning’s father, Cooper, and his uncle, NFL Hall of Famer Peyton Manning.

But he said he sees a resemblance in the patriarch of the Manning football dynasty: Archie Manning.

“Every time I see him speak, it’s really interesting seeing those values are still in Arch in terms of the importance of practice and that attention to detail,” Stewart said.