Continuation of a legendary NFL dynasty?

The name Manning delights most football fans. Whether Archie Manning, Eli Manning or Peyton Manning, the name Manning has stood for spectacle, quality and success in the NFL over the past decades.

Eli with the New York Giants and Peyton, first with the Indianapolis Colts and finally with the Denver Broncos, were both able to win two Super Bowls each and thus leave their mark on NFL history.

And soon there could be the next Manning who will make waves in the best football league in the world. Arch Manning, the grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of the two Super Bowl winners Peyton and Eli Manning, is currently making waves in college. The 19-year-old scored five touchdowns in his Texas Longhorns’ 56-7 victory against UTSA.

What was particularly astonishing was that the young quarterback actually only went into the game as second choice. But then he found out that the actual starter, Quinn Ewers, had to be substituted in the second quarter due to a pulled abdominal muscle. Coach Steve Sarkisian had to react: the 19-year-old came back and immediately impressed. On the first play of the game, Manning managed a 19-yard touchdown pass to DeAndre Moore.

In the third quarter, quarterback Isaiah Bond threw a 51-yard touchdown pass to Texas, putting the score at 35-7. But that wasn’t enough. He then followed that up with a 75-yard touchdown pass to Ryan Wingo. He left the field at the start of the final quarter after throwing another touchdown pass to Johntay Cook II.

The highlight of the game: The young American managed a 67-yard run into the end zone, the longest rush by a Texan quarterback since 2005.

Despite his great performance, Manning subsequently focused on the team: “It helps when you have great players and good coaches around you.”

Despite the 19-year-old’s modest statements, all eyes are currently on the quarterback talent, especially because of his prominent last name.

But Arch also has a lot to offer beyond his last name. He was already impressive in high school. He began his football career at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, just like his father and two uncles. In three seasons, he had 81 touchdowns and just 18 interceptions. Over this period, Manning gained 6,307 yards. The youngster not only impressed as a passer, he also impressed in the role of mobile quarterback.

It is precisely this mobility that sets him apart from Eli and Peyton, who tended to play the role of the classic pocket passer. His grandfather Archie was the closest comparison to the young Manning. He also impresses with his mobility.

His high school performance means that the big universities of Alabama, Clemson and Georgia are lining up to convince the talented 18-year-old. Despite these prominent offers, Manning decided to move to Texas and join the Longhorns.

But the start there was anything but satisfactory. Manning initially had to take a back seat as quarterback number three. On November 24, 2023, he made his college debut when he came on as a substitute in the third quarter against Texas Tech. The quarterback is in action in the current season and was now able to reward himself with a great performance against UTSA.

His goal is clear. The 19-year-old will follow in the footsteps of the great quarterbacks in his family and build on their successes. But he will need patience until he can show his talent in the NFL. He could only register for the 2026 NFL Draft. If he is drafted, the pressure would certainly not be reduced. After all, his relatives were all drafted high. Grandfather Archie Manning was selected second in 1971, Peyton (1998) and Eli (2004) were both selected right at the beginning of the draft.

The chances of recommending himself for a high draft position could increase significantly in the next few weeks. It is still unclear whether his opponent Ewers’ injury is structural. Such an injury would mean a long period of downtime – and at the same time more playing time for Manning.

After his protégé’s strong game, the coach certainly had words of praise for the 19-year-old’s carefree attitude: “It’s difficult when you have a backup who doesn’t have much experience.” Arch was our third man last year. There’s nothing better than being in the game. Playing in front of 105,000 people isn’t easy. I’m really proud of Arch.”

Next week, Texas will face Louisiana-Monroe and a week later, they will face Mississippi State at home. It will be exciting to see whether Arch Manning can attract attention again in these games.