Hypothetical Question: if Peyton Manning were a HS Senior this year...

[PettysDumpster]

...where would he sign? Because it wouldn't be Tennessee. It would be a place that plays to the strengths of a pro-style QB. Who in the SEC currently fits that bill? I'm not so sure that any program currently does. Bama has all of the credentials except the rep of developing QBs for the league. Florida might work, but their system requires their QB to have at least a modicum of mobility. Auburn may have an outside shot, but they are going to target the Cam Newton types... Ark and SC aren't high profile or stable enough to land the superstar QB without there being baggage. Georgia has developed two outstanding college QBs in Greene and Shockley in recent years but their rep doesn't fit the bill either. I don't think that the Mannings would trust any of their sons to Houston Nutt, so Ole Miss is out in spite of the famliy ties. State is obviously out and is a very poor system fit for that type of QB. LSU is out b/c of Les Miles' reputation developing QBs. Forget about UK or Vandy for obvious reasons.

After giving it some thought, I think he would sign with Texas. Powerhouse program, prime place to showcase NFL-type talents. The SEC is not currently a hospitable place for an elite, pro-stylepocket passer to play. The spread has changed the landscape of the conference for now...

 

[Dollabillz]

It's about your players, not your plays. But recruits don't see it that way, at least not all the time. Pretty sure some big time school would hire Cutcliffe and Peyton would go there. I might say Georgia, I think Richt and Peyton would get along well. They usually have the talent to run the pro style offense and a Manning is the type of player that could jump start a program like Georgia. I could also see Alabama with McElwain.

 

[LTblows]

It's about your players, not your plays.

Uh, but that's not what Croom said.

 

[PettysDumpster]

you would make a lot of concessions as a head coach but my point is/was if there is a superstar pro-style QB, especially one with a pedigree, where is the most attractive place to play right now? Because I don't think it's in the SEC. Our defenses are too strong/fast, and the spread offense has been widely adopted in the conference. If you are a multi-threat athlete, that's great but for guys who project as a pocket NFL-type guy that's not your ticket. That's why Ryan Mallet left Michigan, after all.

 

[patdog]

If you're a top traditional passing-style QB right now, there are lot's of good places to play in the SEC.I could easily see Peyton Manning signing withFlorida, Alabama, Georgia, LSU, Arkansas,Auburn or Mississippi if he were being recruited today.</p>

 

[Dollabillz]

and Peyton had offers from the entire country. The Mannings were about as "can't miss" as any quarterback prospect has ever been. The epitome of 5 stars.

 

[57stratdawg]

Maybe Notre Dame with Brian Kelly now? If Pete Carroll was still at USC, they'd be my pick.

I'm sure depth chart would be as big a factor as anything.

 

[jeremyrbrown]

Maybe Duke, with Cutcliffe?

 

[PettysDumpster]

assuming his success continues in South Bend (I think it will). USC is probably 2 years too late to pull a Manning-calibre QB, plus there's too much stink on 'em now even if Carroll had stayed put.

I think that a Manning-type would be a godsend at UGA right now, and I think that Mahlzahn would find a way to make it work at Auburn. Stafford and Campbell having success at the next level adds to the recruting credibility of those programs. Of course Bamaor Florida would take him but I just don't see it as a fit given all of the factors that go into recruiting a player like that. Programshave to sell their pro potential to the elite guysand while Florida and Alabama have sent their QBs to the league, they typically wind up buried on the depth chartof ahave-not NFL squad. (see, Grossman, Rex and Croyle, Brodie).

 

[JimHalpert.nafoom]

My money is on Texas or Florida. UGA wouldn't be a shock, either.

I'd go with one of those three.

 

[Todd4State]

if it was a SEC school. Saban may not be the greatest developers of QB's in the world, but Bama does have a history of putting some good ones out in the past- Joe Namath, Ken Stabler among others, and they have some great recruiting classes- which means that they are getting guys like Julio Jones to throw to. Plus, McElroy had a very good season last year- 17 TD passes and only 4 INT's. I don't know that McElroy is a first round pick right now, but I'm pretty sure that he will be drafted next year unless he pulls a Snead. Alabama always has great o-lines, and they have good running backs and a good defense to take the pressure off of the QB.

I think the drawback to Bama would be that Archie couldn't tell Saban what to do or how to handle Peyton. So, I'm not sure how that that relationship would work out real well.

But, with UT, even with Dooley there who is unproven, you have to think that there are guys that would go to UT just to play with Peyton- especially WR's. They have produced some good QB's through the years as well. I'm not sure what Dooley wants to run at UT in terms of offense, but I don't think he would have a problem running a pro-style offense. I think Archie would still have plenty of say into how his son is handled to.


Believe it or not, Arkansas makes more sense than a lot of schools because of Bobby Petrino, who has been in the NFL as an OC, and now he has done a good job with Mallett.

I think Ole Miss would make a lot of sense to- it just depends on how well Archie got along with Nutt, and also how much Nutt would allow in terms of input with the offense, because in the past- with Mahlzahn in particular- he hasn't really allowed a whole lot, and it ended very badly.

He would not go to MSU even if we had Bill Walsh as a head coach because we're MSU. We saw the backlash from Peyton picking UT, if he picked MSU, they would have burned Archie's house down. Talk about some high quality entertainment though.

Ditto LSU, although that would have been a little more understandable since he is from New Orleans.

Georgia and Richt makes a lot of sense. Pro style offense. And Richt has produced Chris Weinke and Matthew Stafford as well as Charlie Ward.

I think that if he was going to a school out of conference, USC makes the most sense. Lane Kiffen has coached in the NFL, he runs the WCO, and he has a good reputation for developing QB's. SC has also produced Heisman winners and first round picks at the QB position, and they're going to have talent there as well.

 

[Todd4State]

Peyton is not very laid back. I don't think Peyton Manning and Pete Carroll would have gotten along all that great.

 

[57stratdawg]

assuming his success continues in South Bend (I think it will). USC is probably 2 years too late to pull a Manning-calibre QB, plus there's too much stink on 'em now even if Carroll had stayed put.

I think that a Manning-type would be a godsend at UGA right now, and I think that Mahlzahn would find a way to make it work at Auburn. Stafford and Campbell having success at the next level adds to the recruting credibility of those programs. Of course Bamaor Florida would take him but I just don't see it as a fit given all of the factors that go into recruiting a player like that. Programshave to sell their pro potential to the elite guysand while Florida and Alabama have sent their QBs to the league, they typically wind up buried on the depth chartof ahave-not NFL squad. (see, Grossman, Rex and Croyle, Brodie).

If Richt wins 7 or 8 games this year, he's going to be on a serious hot seat next year. I dont think the Mannings would want to send their son into that.

I just think that the current depth chart would be so much more of a factor than putting faces in the NFL. You mention Grossman, but if Manning was a 17 and entering his Sr year, then he would have been 10 years old when Grossman got drafted. Likewise he would have been 12 or 13 when Croyle left. You wouldn't base this decision off things like that.

I think Stanford would be a great darkhorse program to consider. Luck is going to be a high draft pick this year, and the program's 2nd straight Heisman contender. Plus, Harbaugh runs a pro-style offense and has some great NFL ties.

 

[JohnDawg]

also, you used Namath and Stabler as examples for good Alabama QB's? Sure, they were great. However, the majority of this board wasn't alive when they played. Hell, Meoff wasn't even alive when Namath played at Bama and he's the oldest damn person I know. Recruits are going to want to hear about players they've heard of before, the big names in the NFL today, not some old drunk who played before their parents were born.

You did have good points though. Bama has consistently had one of the best recruiting classes in the nation the past few years and they always have strong o-lines and defense.

If I had to guess, he would probably either go to Ole Miss or Georgia.

 

[Todd4State]

Andrew Luck, who is one of, if not the top QB prospect in the country this year, who Harbaugh has coached.

 

[Todd4State]

also, you used Namath and Stabler as examples for good Alabama QB's? Sure, they were great. However, the majority of this board wasn't alive when they played. Hell, Meoff wasn't even alive when Namath played at Bama and he's the oldest damn person I know. Recruits are going to want to hear about players they've heard of before, the big names in the NFL today, not some old drunk who played before their parents were born.

You did have good points though. Bama has consistently had one of the best recruiting classes in the nation the past few years and they always have strong o-lines and defense.

If I had to guess, he would probably either go to Ole Miss or Georgia.

and I think that Archie would prefer that his sons play for coaches with an offensive background.

And while Alabama has not had a lot of big time QB's in recent years, they have had some above average guys like Brodie Croyle and John Parker Wilson that were developed properly and were good solid QB's in college. So, imagine what would happen if they had someone with Peyton Manning's ability?


Also, I was pretty impressed with McElroy last year. I wouldn't be surprised if he is a solid NFL starting QB. So, he may break their trend of nondescript QB's.