Texas Football pulling ahead in recruitment of Arch Manning

After hosting Arch Manning for a three-day visit over the weekend, Texas football has momentum and is viewed as the new leader. 

The Texas football program had a number of top-flight recruits on campus over the weekend, but none was more important than five-star quarterback Arch Manning.

The 6-foot-4, 215-pound quarterback is the greatest prize in all of college football recruiting right now and while the race for his commitment is extremely competitive and close, Texas football has taken the lead, at least according to the On3.com prediction machine.

Arch Manning has just one expert projection right now and it’s for Texas from Eric Nahlin who used confidence of 70 percent on the prediction.

But unlike 247 sports, which uses the crystal ball predictions, On3 weighs a number of different factors that go beyond the opinion or inside info of recruiting experts.

Last week, Alabama was in the lead for Arch Manning. Georgia saw its chances bump up following Manning’s most recent visit, but after a three-day trip to visit the Texas football program, the third visit, by the way, Texas is now the leader again via the prediction machine which gives the Longhorns a 39-percent chance compared to Alabama which is at 33 and Georgia at 18.

Visits play a key part in the prediction machine and they are a key part of the recruiting process. After Manning was able to spend time with a pair of former Texas football quarterbacks, Sam Ehlinger and Colt McCoy, as well as connect with the staff more on campus, the Longhorns feel good about their chances according to Mike Roach, a Texas insider for 247 sports.

Can Texas football close with Arch Manning?

This is the big question. Manning has a strong relationship with Steve Sarkisian and he could be the savior of the program but closing out this recruitment won’t be easy. Georgia and Alabama also seem to have more open situations in terms of starting right away.

Bryce Young and Stetson Bennett will be gone after this season, so each team will be ready for Manning to start. Texas, will likely still have Quinn Ewers and he could be on the roster for 2-3 more years before he heads to the draft.

And what if he blows up this season? Making it clear that Manning won’t be the starter next season. Of course, that’s what competitions are for, but does Manning want to go and compete with a Texas high-school legend?

Alabama and Georgia have talented guys too. But those programs wouldn’t have an established starter as Ewers and Texas football are hoping he becomes this fall.

That’s just my two cents but at the end of the day, Arch Manning probably isn’t taking a seat to anyone and if he does go to Texas, we are going to have a really interesting quarterback competition in 2023.