Peyton Manning and Eli Manning talk Arch Manning's commitment

Peyton Manning and Eli Manning spoke with media Friday morning at the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, La.

Inside Texas’ Justin Wells is live at the Manning Passing Academy, and took in the Manning’s media session.

Peyton Manning spoke with Arch after the Texas visit

Peyton Manning and Arch Manning had a conversation after the Texas official visit.

“I did have a conversation with him last week after he made his last visit, just because he did kind of ask about how I made my decision,” Manning told On3. “I made my decision, and basically announced where I was going two days later because I knew. When you know, you know and there is no point dragging it out and creating drama. I’m not a big fan of the hat reveal, and whole deal. I know that’s part of the show now, but I kind of like how he did it. He sent the word out, and now it’s about being a senior in high school.”

Manning remembers the hardest part was actually picking one school.

“He’s gone through the process. Got to meet a lot of great people, and see some great schools. he had some great options, and it’s hard to say no. I know for me, I kind of wanted to go to each school for a bit, but you can only pick one. Then you have to go to work. I definitely sense some relief from him that the recruiting process is over, and now he can go enjoy being a senior in high school.”

Peyton Manning went through the recruiting process in 1994, but most of his advice is still relevant in 2022.

“I just encourage (recruits) to kind of concentrate on sort of the task at hand,” Peyton Manning told On3. “Look, be a senior, finish out your education, get your high school diploma and try to have the best senior year you can. There’s no doubt it can become a distraction if you let it, but it’s not fair to your teammates and your coaches if you’re not all in, focused on the team. 

“So I think for (Arch’s) sake, the fact that he made this decision here in June was smart. Back when I was getting recruited you didn’t really start until after the season, so you couldn’t make it till after your senior year. But I remember during my senior year I was getting recruited but I felt like I was able to concentrate on my season. So I think for anybody that makes their decision early it’s a great sense of relief.”

Eli Manning talks Arch’s decision

Eli Manning was a member of the 1999 class, a class that included Chris Simms. Both nationally ranked and recruited quarterbacks made official visits to Texas. Manning went on to sign with Ole Miss after admittedly being a Texas lean prior to David Cutcliffe being hired in Oxford.

Eli Manning says Arch made the decision for the right reasons.

“Went to watch him play 7-on-7 last night, and had dinner with him, and I’m excited,” Eli Manning told On3. “I’m excited, and it’s an exciting time. Obviously, Peyton and I have been through that situation, and we both picked colleges that we knew were the right place for us. And sometimes you don’t know the exact reason why. You can’t just pinpoint it and say this is why, you just know where it feels right. You know when you go there, you are going to have a great college experience. Then you make it the right decision with your action, preparation and hard work and commitment. You go in, and don’t look back. We are excited for Arch going to Texas, and Peyton and I look forward to going to Austin in a few falls and watch him play.”

Texas up to No. 7 in the On3 Consensus team rankings

With Manning’s commitment, the Longhorns have jumped into the top 10 of the 2023 On3 Consensus Team Recruiting Ranking and now sit at No. 7.

Manning is the eighth commit in the 2023 recruiting class. He joins Houston Aldine Eisenhower four-star wide receiver Ryan Niblett, DeSoto (Texas) four-star running back Tre Wisner, Santa Ana (Calif.) Mater Dei three-star tight end Spencer Shannon and his high school teammate Will Randle as the recruits on the offensive side of the ball.

Arlington (Texas) four-star Seguin safety Jamel Johnson, Fort Worth (Texas) North Crowley four-star linebacker S’Maje Burrell and Houston C.E. King four-star defensive lineman Dylan Spencer are the defensive commits.