Arch Manning of Newman named Gatorade’s Louisiana Football Player of the Year

CHICAGO (January 6, 2023) — In its 38th year of honoring the nation’s best high school athletes, Gatorade today announced Arch Manning of Isidore Newman School is the 2022-23 Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year. Manning is the second Gatorade Louisiana Football Player of the Year to be chosen from Isidore Newman School.

The award, which recognizes not only outstanding athletic excellence, but also high standards of academic achievement and exemplary character demonstrated on and off the field, distinguishes Manning as Louisiana’s best high school football player. Now a finalist for the prestigious Gatorade National Football Player of the Year award to be announced in January, Manning joins an elite alumni association of state award-winners in 12 sports, including Trevor Lawrence (2018-19 & 2016-17, Cartersville High School, Ga.), Matthew Stafford (2005-06, Highland Park High School, Texas) and Emmitt Smith (1986-87, Escambia High School, Fla.).

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound senior quarterback passed for 2,305 yards and 34 touchdowns this past season, leading the Greenies (8-3) to the Division III Select state tournament quarterfinals. Ranked as the nation’s No. 1 recruit in the Class of 2023 by 247Sports.com and Rivals.com, Manning also rushed for 378 yards and four scores, averaged 10.1 yards per passing attempt and was intercepted only twice. He concluded his prep football career with 8,683 yards and 115 touchdowns through the air.

Manning has volunteered locally at a camp for children with special needs. “Arch’s ability to scramble and keep plays alive is impressive,” said Reynolds Moore, head coach of Benton High School. “His ability to throw it with pinpoint accuracy on the run is deadly. Arch was the driving force that made them go.”

Manning has maintained a 3.50 GPA in the classroom. Taking advantage of NCAA early signing rules, Manning inked a financial-aid agreement that paved the way for him to enroll at the University of Texas. He graduated from high school in December and will attend classes this spring semester.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program annually recognizes one winner in the District of Columbia and each of the 50 states that sanction high school football, girls volleyball, boys and girls cross country, boys and girls basketball, boys and girls soccer, baseball, softball, and boys and girls track & field, and awards one National Player of the Year in each sport. The selection process is administered by the Gatorade Player of the Year Selection Committee, which leverages experts including coaches, scouts, media and others as sources to help evaluate and determine the state winners in each sport.

Manning joins recent Gatorade Louisiana Football Players of the Year Landry Lyddy (2021-22, Calvary Baptist Academy), Walker Howard (2020-21, St. Thomas More High School), Christian Westcott (2019-20, Lakeshore High School), and Derek Stingley Jr. (2018-19, The Dunham School), among the state’s list of former award winners.

Being a Gatorade Player of the Year means paying it forward for the next generation. Through Gatorade’s Play it Forward initiative, every Player of the Year receives a grant to give to one of Gatorade’s social impact partners, supporting Gatorade’s ambition to fuel the future of sport. To date, Gatorade Player of the Year winners’ grants have totaled more than $3.5 million across more than 1,300 organizations.

For nearly 40 years, Gatorade has honored high school athletes at the top of their game as teammates, supporting their communities and achieving academic success. From CEOs and coaches to star athletes and community leaders, Gatorade Player of the Year winners showcase the power of sport.

To learn more about the Gatorade Player of the Year program, check out past winners or to nominate student-athletes, visit playeroftheyear.gatorade.com or follow us on social media on Facebook at facebook.com/GatoradePOY, Instagram at instagram.com/Gatorade and Twitter at twitter.com/Gatorade