Arch Manning recruiting rumors: Is LSU the team to beat for super recruit?

When it comes to the Arch Manning recruitment sweepstakes, it sounds like the LSU football team is in the early driver’s seat.

It is still insanely early, but the LSU football program has to love its chances of landing prized 2023 pro-style quarterback recruit Arch Manning.

According to Jeff Duncan of The Athletic, Manning is wide-open, but the LSU Tigers have prioritized keeping the New Orleans native in-state.

The Isidore Newman standout has been recruited by LSU since the Bayou Bengals won the 2019 National Championship. He has a great rapport with head coach Ed Orgeron. LSU already has commitments from two of his high school teammates in Bo Bordelon and AJ Johnson.

LSU is also heavily recruiting Manning’s best friend, tight end Will Randle. While Manning has growing rapport with new offensive coordinator Jake Peetz, Duncan notes that if Joe Brady was still on the LSU coaching staff and had not joined Matt Rhule as the offensive coordinator of the Carolina Panthers, it would be a done deal for Manning to commit to LSU.

“I love Coach O, and I’m a big fan of the new coordinator, Coach Peetz,” Manning told The Athletic. “They’re all great guys. They have a good staff. I think they’re going to be pretty good this year. And LSU is just an hour away. So, that might be kind of nice.”

LSU football: Are Tigers in the driver’s seat to get Arch Manning’s commitment?

Though he is being courted by other Power 5 programs like Clemson, Ohio State, Alabama, Texas, Stanford, Notre Dame, among others, LSU has to feel good about their position with Manning. While he, his father Cooper and his uncles Peyton and Eli are all New Orleans natives, thanks to this grandfather Archie being the first face of the New Orleans Saints, none played for LSU.

Could Arch finally give LSU a Manning?

Manning’s father Cooper has been vocal about his support for his son to play anywhere, including LSU. You can never blame a star high school prospect wanting to play for his home state’s flagship football program. With Tennessee still down as a program and Ole Miss a non-factor in the SEC West for years and uncertainty about the relationship with Lane Kiffin, the Manning legacy continuing at either program feels like a longshot at this time.

The summer will be a big moment in Arch’s recruitment with several visits planned to his top schools which will help flesh out which schools are at the top of his leaderboard.

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