Arch acting like uncles Eli, Peyton

He’s definitely a Manning. The hype has already been building around Arch Manning, even as the nephew of Eli and Peyton Manning is only a rising high school sophomore, but the next quarterback in a family full of them is already sounding the part.

“Obviously, I have a big last name, but I keep it more about the team,” Arch told Rivals in one of his first documented interviews. “Winning the team over was my biggest goal to getting the starting job. It was about the seniors; it was their last year and they were all really nice to me because I knew all of them. That made it more comfortable and more laid-back. That’s why we had some success last year.”

Arch splashed onto the scene in his freshman year at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans — where Eli, Peyton, and Arch’s dad, Cooper, all previously starred — by throwing for 34 touchdowns as the varsity’s starting quarterback.

The class of 2023 prospect is now 6-foot-3 and 190 pounds. As of February, he had yet to receive any scholarship offers because the family has declined them, according to Sports Illustrated, though their patience in the recruiting process has done little to fade the spotlight on him.

“I just don’t like to have the attention on myself,” Manning said. “I want to focus on my team. I just like being a regular high school kid. I’m just one of the guys on the team.”

That might be a tougher goal with his last name. But whenever Arch and his family officially start the recruiting process, it is sure to involve plenty of fanfare. Eli, Cooper and their dad, Archie, all went to Ole Miss. Peyton went to Tennessee. Those two schools, and many others, figure to come calling as soon as they’re allowed.

Not that the next Manning is anywhere close to tipping his hand just yet.

“There’s a lot that goes into [recruiting],” Arch said. “For a quarterback, it’s all about the best fit. We’re not going into it much yet. I want to enjoy my high school experience and that’s what I’m doing right now. Wherever I go, I know they’ll support me. Who knows … they might not have college football this year, so anything can happen.”