One of the top projected potential talents eligible for the 2026 NFL Draft is Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning. The debate about if Manning will actually enter the draft after his first season at the helm in Austin has generally leaned against Manning leaving for the draft. That lean toward the prodigy stayting in school for at least two more years just got a lot stronger.
The periodical Texas Monthly ran a feature on young Arch that saw the patriarch of the Manning family, longtime NFL quarterback Archie, flatly reject any notion that his grandson was going to leave Texas after the 2025 college season.
“Arch isn’t going to do that,” Archie Manning said. “He’ll be at Texas.”
Arch Manning is taking over for Quinn Ewers, who was the Longhorns’ primary starter a year ago. He completed 67.8% of his passes, netting 939 yards and nine touchdowns against two interceptions. Manning also rushed for 100 yards and four TDs.
His grandson’s precociousness certainly weighs on Archie.
“People are saying he’s a Heisman candidate,” the elder Manning stated. “You’re not a Heisman Trophy candidate when you haven’t played but three games. It’s crazy.”
Archie Manning was the No. 2 overall pick in the 1971 NFL Draft. His sons, Arch’s uncles Peyton and Eli, were the No. 1 overall picks in 1998 and 2004, respectively.