Clemson Camp Top Performers: Arch Manning Dazzles

Clemson, S.C. – The first week of June saw college campuses open back up for football recruits after a year-plus dead period. A bevy of top prospects made their way to upstate South Carolina to take part in Clemson’s first camp sessions. On3 was on hand to watch several prospects turning in impressive performances.

Arch Manning dazzles at Clemson camp

On3 MVP: QB Arch Manning, 2023

Touted rising junior Arch Manning made his first college visit in over a year to Clemson for the Tigers’ camp. He worked out during the afternoon session on Saturday, June 5. Manning drew the close attention of Dabo Swinney along with several Clemson staffers, current players and fellow campers. This was our first opportunity to see the touted 2023 prospect perform in person and he did not disappoint.

For starters, Manning has grown significantly since he burst on the recruiting radar as a ninth grader. He’s a legitimate 6-foot-3 (if not a shade taller) and has filled out to what looks around 190-200 pounds. There is no projection here from a size perspective – he’s ready to go in that regard.

The New Orleans native was highly efficient and precise in drills. His footwork was the most refined and polished of the several top quarterbacks we saw over the course of the week. He was also the most accurate in location drills, with very few errant throws on the day. At this point, his most unique attribute is the throwing motion and release. Manning has a quick, compact motion with no moving parts and is very mechanically sound as a passer. The release is lightning quick and special at this stage. It’s so fast you almost don’t catch it in real time.

Perhaps the most pleasant surprise was Manning’s arm strength. He generated zip and was able to locate the ball to all levels of the field with little effort. He made several highlight throws, including a pretty deep ball to fellow 2023 prospect, Brandon Inniss. The throw prompted outward exuberance from an onlooking Dabo Swinney. Manning also had a spectacular pass to tight end/defensive lineman Matayo Uiagalelei in 1-on-1’s. The throw was a deep ball that was dropped in a bucket from 50 yards out. The play made the rounds on social media after being shared by a current Clemson player who was working the camp.

If there is one area for improvement with Manning, it would be continuing to improve on spinning the ball consistently. There were a few occasions where the ball didn’t come out of his hand cleanly, even if he was accurate. It also took him a bit to adjust to leading speedy receivers with his throws.

The throwing session proved highly informative to where Manning stands at currently in his development. For a prospect who is the scion of one of America’s top sporting families, he garners an inordinate amount of attention anywhere he goes. Despite that, he seemed wholly unbothered by the crowd of observers and lived up to the hype. Manning looks like a safe bet to be among the top quarterbacks and overall prospects in the 2023 cycle at this point. 

TE Jaleel Skinner, 2022

Skinner is perhaps the most athletic tight end prospect in the 2022 cycle and continued to show his physical gifts while working out at Clemson. The 6-foot-4.5, 220-pounder has a lean build with exceptional length. Skinner was at the front of the line in a deep tight end group and worked closely with Tigers’ offensive coordinator Tony Elliott.

The Greer, S.C. product was twitchy and fluid in his movements, seamlessly accelerating and gearing down within route drills. Skinner is not dominant at the catch point at this stage, but we thought he caught the ball well on the day. His highlight catch came on an adjustment to a low throw while moving full speed on a slant route. Skinner continues to look like he has one of the higher athletic ceilings of pass catchers in the 2022 cycle.

QB Nicholaus Iamaleava, 2023

Iamaleava worked out in the Saturday morning session prior to Manning. At 6-foot-6, 190 pounds, Iamaleava has a tall, slender build with plenty of room to fill out. He moved very well in footwork drills, planting and changing directions with ease – not a huge surprise given he doubles as a top volleyball player.

Perhaps most notably, Iamaleava impressed with his considerable arm strength. He was able to easily generate considerable velocity on his throws across the middle of the field. The ball often came in too hot for the younger camp receivers to corral. Iamaleava is still a little raw at times technically. There are still some things for him to organize mechanically, given he’s a taller quarterback. Regardless, the physical upside is undeniable. Iamaleava’s best moments were perhaps the best of any quarterback we saw throw over the week.

DL Hero Kanu, 2022

Kanu was the top 2022 defensive lineman to work out throughout the week. The native German passes the eye test, looking to be around 6-foot-4 and carrying 290+ pounds very well on his frame. He’s well-built with a thick lower body and very little bad weight. Kanu showed light feet in agility drills. He was able to decelerate and change direction with ease. Though the media is not allowed to view 1-on-1’s, Kanu also showed well in that portion of the camp. He reportedly won several of his reps with quickness and a bull rush. Kanu has seen his stock explode since moving to the United States and playing his first season of high school football last fall. That rise looks to be merited based off of his physical tools and impressive energy level and tempo throughout the camp. 

LB DeMario Tolan, 2022, LSU commit

The recent LSU commit was one of two offered linebackers to work out for the Clemson staff, along with fellow blue-chipper, Jaren Kanak. Tolan, who has more of a streamline build, moved well in drills and didn’t strain or show any struggles in changing directions. He also showed some vertical explosion and ball skills in high-point drills. Those skills transferred over to coverage reps, which is really where he shined on the day. Tolan shows his blitzing and penetrating ability on high school film, but the coverage instincts and ball skills were the best we saw from the group at Clemson’s camp – pointing towards a well-rounded skill set for the Florida linebacker.

DL Matayo Uiagalelei, 2023

The younger brother of Clemson starting quarter DJ Uiagalelei is huge – he’s already bigger than DJ, appearing to be around 6-foot-5 and 260-270 pounds. The younger Uiagalelei worked out at both defensive line and tight end in two separate sessions. He looked like a natural on defense and appears to project best on that side of the ball long term.

Uiagalelei moved well in drills and showed some speed to power and pass rush moves in 1-on-1 clips tweeted by his father. He is not quite as polished as a tight end at this point, particularly when it comes to route running and consistently catching the ball with proper technique. Uiagalelei still showed some unique athleticism in being able to separate from defensive backs at his size. After seeing him in person at Clemson, we would not be surprised to see the rising junior end up as a 300 pound interior defensive linemen and one of the more coveted prospects in the 2023 cycle.

TE Ty Lockwood, 2023

Lockwood was among a loaded group of tight end talent to take part the Saturday camp session, working alongside Jaleel Skinner and UCLA commit Jack Pedersen. The Nashville area prospect checks out from a size perspective, looking to be between 6-foot-4 and 6-foot-5. Lockwood worked closely with Tigers’ offensive coordinator Tony Elliott and showed the best ball skills of the group – making a one-handed snag and another diving catch in drill work. He moves well and shows the ability to change direction within his routes. Were it not for Skinner, Lockwood would be an easy pick as the top tight end to camp at the Clemson camp over the course of the week. 

EDGE Gavin Hill, 2023

The Gainesville, Fla. native was the most physically advanced prospect to work with the Edge group through the camp’s first few days. Hill has a developed lower body, carrying much of his weight in his lower half. He looks to be a good bit heavier than his listed 245 and closer to 6-foot-4 than 6-foot-3. Hill moved very well throughout drills and flashed some powerful, violent hands in bag drills. Overall, he looked like the top underclass Edge prospect on hand the first few days at Clemson. This was our second time seeing Hill live this year, as he worked as a TE during the spring 7On circuit. He’s a talented jumbo athlete. His size and potential continued growth will likely determine if he sticks on the edge or slides inside at the next level. 

QB Kamari McClellan, 2024

McClellan was a standout among the loaded group of underclass quarterbacks working out on Thursday. We didn’t spot him in the morning session, but the Alabama native quickly made his presence known in the afternoon. McClellan’s passing talent immediately popped. He regularly generated impressive velocity to all levels of the field with his whippy arm action. The rising sophomore had a number of ‘wow’ throws throughout the day and seemed to get better as the session wore on. McClellan is early in his development both on the field and physically. He has continued to grow taller, but will need to add considerable size as he’s still quite thin. Based on what we saw at the Clemson camp, it’s likely just a matter of time before he breaks out at Oxford High. 

QB Eli Holstein, 2023, Texas A&M commit

The Louisiana native had a solid first session and was the most consistent of the quarterback to throw on Saturday. Holstein is clean mechanically and spun and located the ball well with little variance on his throws. He also moved fairly well in footwork drills. Manning and Iamaleava may have more unique physical traits, but Holstein’s polish and consistency were on display at Clemson. 

LB Jaren Kanak, 2022

Kanak more than passed the eye test. The native Kansan’s size checks out and he owns a well-built, chiseled physique. He worked out at both linebacker and safety under the watchful eye of defensive coordinator Brent Venables. Kanak showed some impressive change of direction and explosive burst in drills. This shouldn’t be a surprise given his athletic bona fides on the track. Kanak is a bit unpolished in coverage at this time. He’s more of an multi-purpose athlete for his high school, but the physical traits are evident.