Alabama still considered a threat for Five-Star Plus+ QB Arch Manning

There has been plenty of chatter and even speculation recently about where Alabama stands in the recruitment of New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman Five-Star Plus+ quarterback Arch Manning. In fact, the On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine has even seen the Crimson Tide drop to 11% in the race to land Manning, while Texas sits at 60.1% and Georgia at 26.7%.  

However, Alabama does not appear to be slowing in its pursuit of Manning. The Crimson Tide sent offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and area recruiter Pete Golding Uptown to Manning’s first spring practice on Monday. Manning hinted that it’s very likely the Crimson Tide are in line to get an official visit in the future, along with both Georgia and Texas. Those visits could come as early as this summer, though they remain in the works.

Sources close to this recruitment insist not to count out the Crimson Tide yet for Manning. The sense is that the battle between the three teams – Alabama, Georgia, and Texas – remains very tight, and the nation’s No. 1 player is still considering other visits.

The compelling part of Alabama’s recruitment of Manning is the fact there is an obvious other option very much on the table at quarterback for the Crimson Tide in four-star Eli Holstein. 

Holstein, a state championship-winning quarterback also from Louisiana, has frequented Tuscaloosa this spring. The one-time Texas A&M commitment was on campus at Alabama three times in a six-week stretch, including on A-Day, where he sat in on offensive meetings alongside O’Brien. The two have meshed very well, this spring especially, sources tell On3.

There is no clear known other option at quarterback for Georgia and Texas at this time.

There has never been a precise timeline for Manning’s decision, though those close to Manning expected one to be in place at some point prior to his senior year. Manning and his family have since made it clear that a decision will come whenever Arch is comfortable doing so. The door remains open for a commitment sometime this summer, but could also stretch into the fall and possibly even December, an indicator that the 18-year-old is still giving strong consideration to at least three teams — and possibly more.

Manning is the No. 1 player in the country according to the On3 Consensus, a complete and equally weighted industry-generated average that utilizes all four major recruiting media companies. He recently went on the record with his recruitment, indicating that he’s still torn between a handful of schools.

“After spring I’m gonna see about the official visits,” Manning told On3. “It’s kind of getting closer. I don’t really have a point yet, but I guess it’s kind of narrowing stuff down. I’m looking forward to (making a decision) either before the season or during the season or after the season. If I was ready I’d probably commit right now, but I’m not, so I’m just waiting.”