Arch Manning, Eli Holstein, Rickie Collins expected at LSU this week

The LSU 7-on-7 tournament returns to Baton Rouge this Friday.

The annual event was created by Frank Wilson during his previous stint at LSU under Les Miles. Now the associate head coach besides Brian Kelly, Wilson’s 7-on-7 tournament is bringing star power to campus in a big way this weekend — especially when it comes to the quarterback position.

Five-Star Plus+ Arch Manning, four-star Alabama commitment Eli Holstein and four-star Purdue commitment Rickie Collins Jr. are all expected to throw and represent their high school programs in LSU’s annual tournament. New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman, Zachary (La.) and Baton Rouge (La.) Woodlawn are all expected to have their ace rising senior quarterbacks with them in the annual state tournament on LSU’s campus — all ahead of official visit weekends out-of-state.

Manning, the nation’s No. 1 player on the On3 Consensus, is days removed from his first official visit to Georgia. Holstein pledged to the Crimson Tide last month. Both On300 passers are expected in Tuscaloosa this weekend for official visits. Manning will round out June with a third official visit — to Texas — on June 17. Holstein will be at Alabama for the remainder of the month to help the Crimson Tide’s recruiting efforts.

Collins is coming off his first official visit to Purdue, where he committed last summer ahead of his junior season. While the four-star quarterback is firmly committed to the Boilermakers, he’s continuing to explore his options and take his official visits. Collins will throw at LSU before officially visiting Florida State. Arkansas is also expected to host Collins for an official visit. Ohio State is another team that has expressed increased interest in the On3 Consensus’ No. 10-ranked quarterback.

Manning is the lone uncommitted quarterback of the group that’s expected on LSU’s campus and of course, the state’s top player and the nation’s No. 1. Under the push from Kelly, who recruited Manning at Notre Dame, as well as Wilson, offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock and quarterbacks coach Joe Sloan, the Tigers have remained afloat in Manning’s recruitment.

Manning told On3 this spring he intended to visit LSU at some point for either a practice or game.

“Coach (Brian) Kelly knows how to win … He’s won everywhere he goes pretty much. I have a former teammate, Bo (Bordelon), so he’s going up there this summer. I want to check him out, see how he does in practice and I’ll probably go up there for a game.”

Manning is one of three Five-Star Plus+ prospects in the 2023 cycle along with Los Alamitos (Calif.) quarterback Malachi Nelson and Lakeland (Fla.) Lake Gibson cornerback Cormani McClain.