Peyton Manning reveals advice he shared with Arch Manning prior to Texas commitment

The Manning family is dominating the headlines to end the week with both the Manning Passing Academy and the long-awaited commitment of No. 1 overall 2023 recruit Arch Manning to Texas on Thursday. At the passing academy, started by Arch’s grandfather Archie Manning, the young quarterback’s uncle shared the advice he gave before he made his decision.

Peyton Manning went through the recruiting process in 1994, but most of his advice is still relevant in 2022.

“I just encourage (recruits) to kind of concentrate on sort of the task at hand,” Peyton Manning told On3. “Look, be a senior, finish out your education, get your high school diploma and try to have the best senior year you can. There’s no doubt it can become a distraction if you let it, but it’s not fair to your teammates and your coaches if you’re not all in, focused on the team.

“So I think for (Arch’s) sake, the fact that he made this decision here in June was smart. Back when I was getting recruited you didn’t really start until after the season, so you couldn’t make it till after your senior year. But I remember during my senior year I was getting recruited but I felt like I was able to concentrate on my season. So I think for anybody that makes their decision early it’s a great sense of relief.”

Heading into his final season at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, Arch Manning can now focus on finishing that chapter on a high note. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback begins his 2022 season on Sept. 2 with a game versus Hahnville.

Arch Manning makes the call for Texas

Thanks to his family, Arch Manning has ties to Tennessee and Ole Miss, and was also heavily considering Georgia and Alabama, but he ultimately chose Texas. The efforts of head coach Steve Sarkisian and quarterbacks coach AJ Milwee paid off after the five-star plus+ prospect visited numerous programs.

The relationship between Arch Manning and Steve Sarkisian blossomed while the Texas coach was still at Alabama. It began as soon as the two first talked football, and it has grown from there.

“I think it goes back to his relationship with Sark and his quarterback development over the years and the offense that he runs,” On3 analyst Chad Simmons said. “I’ve said for the beginning, I think he had the best relationship with any coach with Steve Sarkisian. I think him being the head coach, the offensive mind, quarterback developer, I think that is really what put Texas over the top.”

While Texas’ offense was hot and cold this past season, Sarkisian’s success at Alabama and previous spots demonstrate his ability to develop quarterbacks. Sarkisian and Manning have bonded over system learning and the mental side of game.