Five-star quarterback Arch Manning is the new No. 1 prospect in the 2023 class after seeing many of the top recruits at numerous summer events.
The New Orleans (La.) Isidore Newman standout took visits to the schools listed below which are believed to be his favorites. We take a look at how those visits went and where those programs stand in his recruitment heading into his junior season.
Note: Schools listed in alphabetical order.
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RIVALS RANKINGS WEEK
Monday: Five-star countdown
Tuesday: Rivals250 unveiled
Wednesday: Offensive position rankings released
Thursday: Defensive position rankings released
Friday: State rankings
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ALABAMA
Manning spent four days in Tuscaloosa in June for his first visit with the Tide. He spent a lot of time with first-year offensive coordinator Bill O’Brien and head coach Nick Saban. Alabama’s offense has been attractive to quarterbacks the last several years after producing back-to-back first-rounders in Tua Tagovailoa and Mac Jones.
Alabama is in strong contention early in his recruitment, but with the Tide signing Jalen Milroe (2021) and Ty Simpson (2022) it will be intriguing to see if the young talent at the position causes Manning to go elsewhere. Alabama plays the best players regardless of age and it will be a strong point of emphasis used by Saban and O’Brien until the nation’s top player in 2023 makes a decision. – Andrew Bone, BamaInsider.com
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CLEMSON
Manning opened up his summer travels with an overnight stay at Clemson, where he competed at the Dabo Swinney Camp and spent time at the head coach's house. Here's believing that Manning's travels were akin to first dates. There was already something in each suitor that intrigued or impressed him, and the vast majority probably went well, Clemson's included. So did the trips create an order or provide a huge shakeup? Don't think so.
What it yielded was Manning and family getting a more accurate feel for each program's culture and vibe. Clemson's low-key nature and personal touch typically strikes folks as different, and here's working under the impression it appeals to the Manning camp. So what it did was earn the Tigers a place in the second round of dates. – Paul Strelow, TigerIllustrated.com
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GEORGIA
Manning spent multiple days in Athens and he and the Manning family went to dinner with the Georgia coaching staff. Manning met with Todd Monken and the Georgia offensive staff as well to discuss. Matt Luke has ties with the Manning family from Ole Miss and it’s no secret that Kirby Smart and Peyton Manning are close as well.
Georgia is one of the real contenders for Manning along with Clemson, Texas, Alabama, and Ole Miss. – Blayne Gilmer, UGASports.com
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LSU
Manning’s recruitment has been closely watched for quite some time now, and will continue to be monitored until he signs with a school. The five-star has every big-time program after him but it’s more than likely only a handful have a legitimate shot at landing him, and LSU would be on that short list.
The family really likes offensive coordinator Jake Peetz and what he brings to the Tigers. Being the in-state program, Arch and his family are very familiar with the LSU program and the June unofficial visit only helped. The Tigers still have a long way to go to actually sign Manning, and that starts this fall on the field and what the offense can do under Peetz.
Manning doesn’t have a top schools list or anything that he has publicly put out or spoken of, but I would imagine LSU is in his top five going into his junior year. – Julie Boudwin, TigerDetails.com
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OLE MISS
Manning’s last visit this summer was to Oxford, a place he’s quite familiar with. His first real meet-and-greet with Lane Kiffin and Jeff Lebby went well as the three discussed the nuances of the Ole Miss offense and how he’d fit.
Manning met Rebel quarterback Matt Corral last month at the Manning Passing Academy and the two became fast friends. Right now, I’d say the Rebels have positioned themselves nicely with Clemson and Texas heading into the fall. – Zach Berry, RebelGrove.com
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SMU
On his unofficial visit to SMU, which was a stop ahead of the visit to Austin, Manning met up with Newman teammate Will Randle. It was a place both had been wanting to visit and is a popular destination for Newman graduates.
Manning did not throw during his time on The Hilltop but did get to meet with the coaches and had high praise for the staff and the campus. – Stephen Peters, TheHillTopics.com
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TEXAS
Manning is a tough recruit to predict because he rarely says much publicly, but in talking to sources and reading the tea leaves, Texas is right there in the thick of the race with Alabama, Clemson and Ole Miss. Manning took a two-day visit to UT in June and people who spent time with him feel he and his family really enjoyed their time in Austin and there's some thought that the family is fond of Steve Sarkisian and the offense he runs.
This one's tough to predict with any real certainty but if Texas plays well in the fall and can show Manning the program is heading in the right direction, I'd put Texas on an even playing field with any other team on Manning's list. – Jason Suchomel, OrangeBloods.com
