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Archie Manning says grandson Arch will remain at Texas through 2026 season, not enter NFL Draft
Archie Manning says grandson Arch will remain at Texas through 2026 season, not enter NFL Draft

New York Times

time3 days ago

  • Sport
  • New York Times

Archie Manning says grandson Arch will remain at Texas through 2026 season, not enter NFL Draft

Former NFL quarterback Archie Manning predicted that his grandson, Texas starting quarterback Arch Manning, will not enter the 2026 NFL Draft. Archie told Texas Monthly magazine he hasn't spoken to Arch about the issue, but said he knows him well enough to know that 'Arch isn't going to do that. He'll be at Texas (in 2026).' Advertisement That revelation is largely unsurprising to those who have closely followed Arch's recruitment, college career and his family's handling of it. Arch, the son of Cooper Manning and nephew of Peyton and Eli Manning, has bucked several trends since being anointed as the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 class, and all three elder Manning quarterbacks exhausted their college eligibility during their careers. But it's still a notable statement given that NFL scouts will be closely watching and some draft projections, including from The Athletic's Dane Brugler, slot Arch as the potential No. 1 selection in the 2026 NFL Draft if he chooses to declare for it. Arch's father, Cooper, told The Athletic earlier this spring that he's seen plenty of examples of the NFL being too quick to dump talented players who don't get off to fast starts in their pro careers. 'It's amazing the amount of movement in the quarterback position, from top draft picks already in years one, two or three—Oh, he can't play. But then he goes somewhere else, and he plays well. You're on a clock probably a lot more than you should be in the world of the NFL.' He also appreciated how Texas has handled his son and explained why rushing the process with quarterbacks can backfire. 'I think they've done a great job of protecting him, developing him, and letting him be a regular kid as best you can, and now, when the time is right, you're ready to go,' he said. 'Playing is good, but playing when you're really ready and prepared usually works out better, in every league.' To date, Arch has started just two games: the Longhorns' 2024 wins over Louisiana-Monroe and Mississippi State. He also played nearly three quarters of the Longhorns' blowout win over UTSA while filling in for the injured Quinn Ewers last season. Arch has appeared in 12 career games, completing 66.3 percent of his passes for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions, while rushing for 115 yards and four touchdowns on 28 attempts. Advertisement Arch redshirted his true freshman season in 2023 and was the third-string quarterback behind Ewers and Maalik Murphy. Arch stepped into the backup role last season after Murphy transferred, but Ewers remained the starter and led Texas to the College Football Playoff semifinals for a second consecutive year. With Ewers now gone to the NFL, this season will be Arch's first as the full-time starter. Despite Arch's inexperience, the preseason hype has reached high levels given his family and recruiting pedigree and pure physical talent. He's the current Heisman Trophy betting favorite, according to BetMGM, ahead of LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik, Ohio State receiver Jeremiah Smith and Penn State quarterback Drew Allar. Speculation that NFL teams would 'tank' for Manning's services has run rampant, despite no evidence that he'll declare. Texas opened the preseason as the No. 1 team in the country in the USA Today coaches poll, which was released on Monday. Archie, in the Texas Monthly story, bucked back at some of the expectations. 'People are saying he's a Heisman candidate,' Archie said. 'You're not a Heisman Trophy candidate when you haven't played but three games. It's crazy.' Arch offered a similar message at SEC media days last month, telling reporters: 'I'm not really sure how they get these opinions. I've only played what, two games?' he said. 'I guess that's nice to say. But you know, that doesn't mean anything. Talk is cheap. I've gotta go prove it.' The Mannings have handled Arch's career with care. They limited contact with recruiters, and Arch largely stayed off social media, a tool that is often used by top recruits to update fans on their visits or top-five lists. Arch has emphasized that he has not considered entering the transfer portal while riding the bench early in his career, though every other five-star QB in his recruiting class has transferred at least once already. Advertisement Arch did not capitalize heavily on name, image and likeness deals while he was a backup. He has leaned into those more this year now that he is the starter, but said in an interview with ESPN earlier this year that he wanted to 'earn it.' 'I didn't want to be the guy rolling in with all this money when we have guys like Jake Majors who have 40 starts and not making any, and I'm taking all the money,' he said. 'I wanted to earn my money, work hard, get to know the players, kind of earn my way up.' The Manning family's financial wealth and stability make it so that Arch didn't have to rush to take NIL money, and explain why there's a good chance he'll stay at Texas in 2026 rather than jumping to the pros. If Arch and Texas live up to the preseason expectations and win a national championship, observers will keep close tabs on his draft decision. — The Athletic's Bruce Feldman contributed to this report. Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle

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