Arch Manning and His Uncles: A Legacy of Quarterbacks

Arch Manning has already become a household name for football fans. The high school quarterback is a stud recruit, whose recruitment has been heavily covered by the media. Now, in recruiting circles, highly ranked quarterbacks always get a lot of attention, but Arch Manning is getting attention beyond the standard for recruits. That comes down to his last name and the legacy that it comes with. After all, his uncles are Peyton and Eli Manning.

Peyton and Eli

Peyton and Eli Manning have been fixtures in the football world for decades now. They were legacies themselves, to their father Archie Manning. Between the Manning brothers, they have won four Super Bowls and been to 18 Pro Bowls. Peyton also is a five-time MVP and has already been named to both the College Football and Pro Football Halls of Fame. Many others believe that Eli deserves Hall of Fame recognition too.

Peyton is clearly the better quarterback between the two brothers. He went to Tennessee, where he was a dominant quarterback, the best in school history. He went on to be a first-round draft pick by the Indianapolis Colts where he dominated. A record shattering quarterback, Manning was known for his great duels with Tom Brady and his ability to break down an opposing defense. Eli, the youngest, followed his father and older brother to Ole Miss, where his number 10 is now retired. The first overall pick in the 2004 NFL Draft, Eli spent his entire career with the New York Giants, twice beating the Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Peyton and Eli Manning’s older brother Cooper is the father of Arch Manning. His career was cut short due to a spinal injury that he suffered as a freshman at Ole Miss. However, many people feel that he had the potential to be the best NFL talent of all three.

Arch Manning, Next Quarterback Up

Arch Manning is the On3 Consensus top prospect in the Class of 2023. On3 isn’t alone here, as every major recruiting service has him ranked as the top prospect in the class. He’s a natural pocket passer who has the athleticism to make things happen out of the pocket if need be. He processes information quickly and makes quick, smart decisions. He has an elite release with deadly accuracy. Maybe that shouldn’t be surprising given the pedigree of quarterback talent that he comes from, though.

The Manning family loves to work out with Arch, helping him to become the best quarterback he possibly can be. At the same time, they have also worked to shield him from the immediate spotlight, hoping to give him as normal of a high school career and college recruitment as possible. When asked about a workout the two did together, Peyton said, “I just don’t… he’s getting plenty of attention, and I’m just not adding to it with QB analysis… I don’t do that with high school quarterbacks, even if they’re related to me. I want him to have fun being a junior in high school, and I want him to enjoy this experience. Cooper is giving him great guidance.”

Eli, meanwhile, feels badly for his nephew. He said, “I feel for him, I really do. It’s unfair expectations, but I have been impressed with Arch and his demeanor. He’s not getting a big head or getting overwhelmed which could easily happen.”

Arch Manning and his family understand the situation that he’s in. He’s got the potential to be an elite quarterback. However, the attention on him due to his last name can be overwhelming. That’s why the family has largely tried to keep him out of the spotlight. Instead, they’ve wanted him to enjoy high school.

How Peyton and Eli Could Impact Arch’s Recruitment

A lot of people have wondered how his family’s history could impact Arch Manning’s recruitment. After all, his father, grandfather, and one of his uncles all went to Ole Miss. His other uncle played at Tennessee. Would he want to follow in their footsteps or would he want to pave his own way at a new school? Then, how much pressure would be on Manning to go somewhere based on what his family wants?

Right now, it seems like his family is giving him advice, without trying to force his hand. They likely remember how Peyton fell in love with Tennessee and how that worked out. So, they’re going to want to give Arch the same opportunity to find where he belongs as an individual. Eli said on the Great Dane Nation podcast, “It’s all up to him and his feel and we’ll support him and whatever school he goes to for those four years. If it’s not Ole Miss, hey, I’ll be a fan for a brief moment for those four years.”

While the Manning family may not be pressuring a decision, it’s clear they’ve advised him to avoid being too public with his approach. Arch Manning has tried to keep his recruitment as quiet as possible, fighting the growing hype train. He hasn’t posted to social media and he keeps to himself. In many ways, he’s tried to have as traditional of a recruitment as possible. Arch has tried to take his uncle Eli’s advice, “You’re playing football with your best friends, so just enjoy this time in your life.”

As of now, Arch Manning’s list of possible schools still seems to be growing. His top schools are:

1. Alabama
2. Texas
3. Georgia
4. Ole Miss

It’s also worth pointing out that Arch Manning recently took a visit to Virginia, his mother’s alma mater. His sister also attends UVA and new head coach Tony Elliott had been recruiting him to Clemson.

Arch Manning Has a Legacy to Live up to

Part of why Arch Manning is getting so much attention is his talent. Make no mistake, he’s an incredible athlete and quarterback prospect. It’s impossible to ignore the legacy that he’s trying to live up to. Throughout his career, he is going to be compared to his family. In that way, having the name Manning is a double edged sword. Sure, he gets a lot of love and has great NIL opportunities (On3 gives Arch Manning a massive $1.6 million NIL evaluation), but he also lives in his family’s shadow. If he struggles, he won’t be compared to a college player adjusting to the game, but to his Hall of Fame caliber uncles.

Of course, it’s not fair to compare Arch Manning to his uncles. They’ve had their NFL careers, while he is beginning his journey in football. Arch still needs time to develop. He still needs time to grow up. However, because of his talent and more importantly his last name, expectations are going to remain through the roof as Arch is held to a potentially unrealistic standard.