On behalf of Alabama football fans, congratulations are conveyed to Steve Sarkisian and the University of Texas. The Longhorns landed a commitment from the No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 class, Arch Manning.
More famous than his dad, but less famous than his uncles and grandfather, Arch Manning took his time to make a college decision. Some Alabama football fans harbor a longstanding dislike for Uncle Payton, but to the credit of the entire family, the recruitment process was handled in a no-nonsense fashion.
Until the Early Signing Period, other teams will not give up chasing Manning. Hopefully, the Alabama Crimson Tide will not be one of them. Nick Saban and Bill O’Brien already had their top ’23 class quarterback in Eli Holstein.
Saban wants two QBs in the 2023 class. The pair was never going to be Holstein and Manning. Now, maybe another talented QB recruit; perhaps Dylan Lonergan will choose Alabama Football.
Arch Manning will probably become a college football star. Perhaps he will someday, do what his uncles accomplished and quarterback a Super Bowl-winning NFL team. Despite all that promise, Arch was never a ‘make or break’ recruit for the Crimson Tide.
The 2023 Alabama football QB room is already loaded with elite talent in Jalen Milroe, Ty Simpson and Eli Holstein.
Check out some of the social media responses to Arch Manning choosing Texas.
“Arch Manning drops back, he escapes the pocket, oh what a throw by manning! Touchdown Texas! That’ll make it Alabama 55 Texas 10”
— Old Row Sports (@OldRowSports) June 23, 2022
Arch Manning after Texas goes 6-6 in his freshman and sophomore years pic.twitter.com/qGMOGzF9ew
— Oluwajomiloju (@JomiAdeniran) June 23, 2022
Gotta respect Arch Manning. He could’ve had some massive commitment ceremony with a concert and all of ESPN there, but instead on a Thursday afternoon in June he tweets “committed to the University of Texas.” Didn’t make it some ‘look at me’ ordeal.
— PSU Everything (@PSU_Strong) June 23, 2022
How did the Texas Longhorns land Arch Manning? If a NIL deal was involved, and no claim is being made that one was – it would not have been the deciding factor. The Manning family has made a gazillion dollars in and because of football. Combined it should be plenty of wealth for generations.
The tipping point was probably Steve Sarkisian. Some Alabama football fans, and many Atlanta Falcons fans, have never given Sarkisian credit equal to his offensive mind. Based on multiple reports, Archie, Peyton and Eli disagree.
When Sarkisian and Lane Kiffin were together on Pete Carroll’s Southern Cal staff, it was Sark who was considered the offensive mastermind. Because of Sarkisian, Arch Manning should do well in Austin. So well, Quinn Ewers may spend a season looking over his shoulder.
There is a plus for Crimson Tide fans in Manning choosing Texas. As illogical as it may seem, if Arch had joined the Tide, there was no guarantee Peyton would have attended games dressed in crimson. He might have worn puke orange instead.