Arch Manning close to a sure thing as latest family quarterbacking star

It was a Sunday afternoon throw on a Wednesday morning.

During a 7-on-7 game at Isidore Newman School, quarterback Arch Manning whistled a 35 yard strike downfield to tight end Will Randle.

A coach from one of the opposing schools at the event looked at a reporter and laughed.

“He’s pretty good.”

Yes, he is.

There is no such things as a sure thing, but in football these days I would bet my money on the following.

In college and beyond, Arch Manning will be the player that everyone wants for reasons that go beyond his considerable talents.

He’s not cocky.

He’s not a social media maven.

He doesn’t crave the attention but loves it when his teammates are interviewed by the media.

So, in other words, he’s been raised right.
His father, paternal grandfather and his two uncles handled the spotlight very well.

So has Arch. He came out in the rain after 7-on-7s for a local TV interview Tuesday.

His summer visits, ones that included Alabama, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, and Texas, are over. Manning says he plans to attend some games this fall. He plans to watch a lot of college football.

Manning also said he plans to spend the bulk of his time on studies and on chasing something he covets. That is, the first state football crown in the history of Isidore Newman.

Current head coach Nelson Stewart was a lineman on the 1991 Greenies team that lost to Haynesville
27-21 in the state Class 2A semifinals.

That loss was jarring.

Newman had a chance to take the lead and win the game late, only to be stopped on a key fourth-and-one. Haynesville then connected on a 64-yard touchdown pass to win the game.

Three decades later, the Greenies have not been closer to winning that elusive title.

Still, Stewart revels at the thought of that night.

“Think about it,” said Stewart. “Peyton changed our school forever. He changed Tennessee forever. He changed the Colts forever. And he changed the Broncos. That is the kind of player and competitor he was.”

It remains to be seen if Peyton’s heralded nephew is that kind of talent but it’s hard to argue with the potential. That pass, whistling through the middle of Michael Lupin Field to the outstretched arms of his tight end is hard to ignore.

And so are the other things that come along with Arch’s strong arm. He’s smart, humble, and when he’s on the field, he’s all business.

Just remember, he’s yet to throw a pass in his junior season of high school.