Will Arch Manning go to LSU? Cooper Manning gives his blessing

Arch Manning has been given the okay to play for LSU football if he wants.

Arch Manning may not be destined for Oxford, or Knoxville, after all.

There is a new branch stemming from the Manning family football tree down in New Orleans. Cooper Manning’s son Arch is entering his sophomore season at Isidore Newman and just had a growth spurt. Archie Manning‘s grandson and Peyton and Eli Manning‘s nephew will be one of the most sought-after quarterback prospects in the 2023 recruiting class. But where will he play?

Cooper Manning appeared on ESPN Radio’s Off the Bench with Jordy Culotta and T-Bob Hebert on Tuesday morning. Manning, Culotta and Hebert touched on many topics, but Hebert had to get an answer out of Manning on a very important topic: Would the Manning family be open to Arch Manning playing his college football at Hebert’s alma mater of LSU?

Manning said his family was open to letting any of their kids playing where they wanted to go.

Could Arch Manning end up playing for Ed Orgeron and the LSU Tigers?

Of the four football players of note of the Manning family, three of them went to Ole Miss. Cooper Manning followed his father Archie’s footsteps to play for the Rebels in Oxford. Despite being one of the best wide receivers in the country, his football career was cut short due to spinal stenosis. His younger brother Eli played for David Cutcliffe in Oxford in the early 2000s.

While the Mannings are football royalty at Ole Miss, it wouldn’t be the weirdest thing to see Arch play for someone other than the Rebels. Peyton Manning opted to play his college football for the Tennessee Volunteers over in Knoxville. It worked out pretty well for the future Pro Football Hall of Fame quarterback. So Arch could follow his uncle and not play for Ole Miss.

As for LSU, you know Tigers head coach Ed Orgeron will be eager to sign a Manning to play for his football team. The failed Ole Miss coach who replaced Cutcliffe is thoroughly enjoying his second stint as a college football head coach. Orgeron is coming off a perfect national championship-winning season led by 2019 Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow.

Though it’s still insanely early in Arch‘s recruiting process, the Manning family would be foolish to close the doors on any school who wants him. All the top players in the country will want a quarterback like him. Manning could play for Ole Miss or Tennessee just as easily as he could play for LSU, Alabama, Florida, Georgia or any school in the SEC. It’s too early too tell.

When Manning says his son can play anywhere, let’s take him at his word…for now.

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