Kirby Smart recalls Georgia recruiting former 5-star QB Arch Manning ahead of Texas showdown
Arch Manning is proving that football funs in the family.
The Georgia Bulldogs were once firmly in the mix to land former five-star quarterback Arch Manning.
Ultimately, Manning chose to take his talents to the Texas Longhorns.
Now, as Georgia prepares to welcome Texas to Sanford Stadium, head coach Kirby Smart reflected on what impressed his staff about Manning during the recruiting process, emphasizing qualities that went far beyond his famous last name.
“Yeah, it really wasn’t about the celebrity nature or the last name. It was about the tape,” Smart said. “You know, I have a good relationship with their family. I’ve known his dad for a while, his uncle for a long time, and his grandfather. They’ve got a wonderful family, but it has nothing to do with his recruitment.”
Arch Manning is making a name for himself
Many people recognize Manning for his uncles Peyton and Eli, and his father Cooper. But Smart really knows him for what he brings on the football field.
“His recruitment was based on he’s athletic, he’s fast, he’s tall, he’s intelligent, he’s got composure, he’s got arm. I mean, he can do it all,” said. “He can run the ball, he can throw the ball. In this day and age, you’ve got to have a quarterback that can do both. He can, and I think he’s got great composure. You know, He’s not really affected by not many things, even the way he’s managed the hype and expectations of what he was supposed to be this year.
“None of that was — he didn’t call on any of that to come to him. It’s just what the outside sources did, and it doesn’t seem to have affected him. He knows he’s gotta grow and get better, and I think Sark’s done a great job kind of bringing him up and allowing him to develop and get better.”
Manning hasn’t done anything too impressive to draw much attention as the Longhorns’ QB1 this fall, but he has continued to improve. In nine games so far, he’s completed 62 percent of his throws for 2,123 yards, tallying 18 touchdowns with six interceptions.
As for Georgia, while they missed on landing Manning, they’ve done a good job with their own first-year QB1, Gunner Stockton.
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