Arch Manning's dad sounds off on NIL, changes in college football

The recruitment of Arch Manning will likely go down as the most-followed in the internet recruiting era.

Fans of his top schools await his eventual decision on pins and needles, and where he commits will almost certainly have a massive domino effect on the 2023 recruiting class. He ranks as the No. 1 overall prospect in the 2023 class, according to the On3 Consensus. And he is the most ballyhooed high school quarterback in some time.

But the Manning family — arguably the most famous football lineage ever — has taken a largely conservative approach to Arch’s recruitment. Arch himself only does a handful of interviews. The rest is handled through his high school coach. He isn’t public on social media with his offers or interests, and they’ve played it all very close to the vest. And that has been nothing if not intentional. Arch’s dad, Cooper, talked to ESPN’s Chris Fowler on his podcast about how the recruiting process has changed since he was in high school — and even just in the past few months.

“The whole game of college football seems to have changed in the past three to four months,” Cooper Manning said in the podcast. “With the coaches moving around a lot more freely, the element of these big signing bonuses for classes and everything. No one sits around and says, ‘I’m going to be a backup and work for it for two to three years.’ It’s onto the next thing.'”

” …. (With Arch) we’re trying to do things like they used to be done, back 15 years ago. Just go pick a school you like, coaches you like, a place you think you’d be happy if you weren’t playing football. Get a good education, make friends and try your best. I know it sounds kind of simple and howdy doody. But I think sometimes people get a little ahead of themselves. These are 18-year-old boys you’re trying to turn into men. And I think whoever can do that the best is probably going to get the guy.”

4 schools have remained constant for Arch Manning

Four schools have been part of Manning’s recruitment from the beginning: Ole Miss, Texas, Alabama and Georgia. Clemson was once in the mix but is now considered to be on the outside looking in. Other programs like LSU, Oklahoma, and Florida are all on the periphery, with the Tigers are hoping to get a visit in March. The On3 Recruiting Prediction Machine gives Alabama a slight edge over the other schools with a 30.1% chance to land Manning. Georgia (24.9%), Texas (19.6%) and Ole Miss (12.6%) trail behind.

Cooper Manning was also asked if there is any pressure for Arch to choose Ole Miss, which is his alma mater, as well as where Eli and their father Archie starred as quarterbacks.

“I’m trying to raise children that are going to make the best decision for themselves,” Manning said. “I don’t know where he’s going, and I don’t really care. I want him to make a decision, and he’ll live with it. It’s not going to be easy. … He’ll figure it out. He’ll do the due diligence. We’re just trying to guide him along in the process and cheer for him. And we’ll pick him up if things don’t go right.”