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Arch Manning is set to lead the Texas football team in his first season as the Longhorns‘ starting quarterback. He’ll look to show that the Heisman hype surrounding his future is legit.
Texas was always the favorite to land his commitment three years ago. It was his dream school. It wasn’t, however, the best fit according to his dad, Cooper.
Seth Wickersham of ESPN recently published a story breaking down the “ruthless” recruitment of Arch Manning. It detailed the high-profile race to secure his pledge.
There were a number of contenders. He visited Clemson twice. He saw Alabama, Texas, and Georgia on four occasions. Ole Miss got multiple visits. He saw LSU, too.
It was an off-the-radar school that piqued Cooper Manning’s interest.
Arch Manning’s dad like Virginia.
The quarterback took a trip to Charlottesville in April of 2022. It sparked immediate speculation about his commitment.
The Mannings have ties to UVA. Arch’s mom and aunt both attended Virginia. His sister was a student there at the time of his recruitment.
Cooper Manning liked the Cavs for another reason, though. Virginia isn’t a “football school.”
It wasn’t a football crazy school. He could live under the radar. His older sister, May, was a student there. As Cooper and Arch walked through campus, the father saw an opportunity for something close to peacefulness. “You could come here, be a normal guy,” Cooper told him. “No one’s gonna mess with you.”
His dad believed the passer could have a more normal college experience with the ACC program. Whether that’s true or not, we’ll never know.
Manning would’ve been in the spotlight no matter his college choice. He likely would’ve been thrust into a starting role more quickly in Charlottesville, too.
Ultimately, he chose Texas. Had his father gotten his way, the college football landscape might look a lot different.
Manning’s commitment would’ve had a domino effect.
Texas had a backup plan had they missed out on Arch Manning. Sacramento State quarterback Jaden Rashada was their fallback.
“There was a little bit of, what’s the backup plan if we don’t get Arch? I went to see Jaden as a potential guy we could put on the radar if we didn’t get Arch.”
-Former Texas coach Brennan Marion
Rashada was a five-star recruit that had a dramatic recruitment that involved fallouts with Florida and Miami. He signed with Arizona State after suing the Gators over undelivered NIL promises.
After one season, he bailed for Georgia. Now, he’s landed at FCS Sacramento State.
Had Manning signed with Virginia, it might’ve changed the program’s trajectory. The Cavaliers have posted two winning seasons in the last decade. They went just 3-7 the year before Manning’s commitment.
The outlook certainly would’ve shifted had they landed the nation’s top recruit. That decision would’ve impacted College Football Playoff participants Texas and Arizona State, too.
Obviously, Manning would not be playing for the Longhorns had he signed with Virginia. That might’ve led Rashada to Austin instead of Tempe, which would’ve forced the Sun Devils to go after another signal caller.
An experienced transfer might’ve deterred current starter Sam Leavitt from joining the program a year later. He wouldn’t have been under center to lead the team to the postseason.
Ultimately, none of that happened. Arch Manning signed with Texas as expected despite his dad’s desires. He’ll now look ahead to Year 1 as a starter. Arizona State is glad Manning rejected his father’s advice.