"It wasn't about the brand": Texas coach Steve Sarkisian once weighed in on Arch Manning's recruitment process
Steve Sarkisian's success in developing deep quarterback rooms with talents like Arch Manning and Quinn Ewers is well-documented. Sarkisian is often asked about Arch Manning's position at Texas, as fans are intrigued to see the Manning prodigy perform and continue the name's legacy in the game.
During an interview on "Bussin With The Boys" in 2023, Steve Sarkisian spoke about how he recruited Manning, who was a five-star prospect in last year's recruiting class:
"I tell his mom and dad all the time, they did an unbelievable job raising him and in the process. I never talked to Peyton, I never talked to Eli, I talked to Cup, I talked to Ellen, I talked to Arch, I talked to Hyde, I talked to sister, like, it was about the family. It wasn't about the Manning brand. It was about Arch Manning.
"It wasn't this enormous media circus, I mean, they kept that thing pretty tight, but they went about it in a positive way. They created relationships with with the coaches in various schools, and they're all great schools. Ultimately, they felt like this was the best place for him and I think it came down to what he wanted. And then the family supported him." (10:33)
Is Arch Manning transferring to Tennessee?
Arch Manning is among the most talked-about players in the nation. Owing to his famous last name, there is a constant interest in the Texas quarterback's presence with the Longhorns, be it at the 2024 spring game or during his first year at Austin.
On July 25, 2024, a college football insider took to Twitter to share that Manning reportedly traveled to Knoxville to meet Tennessee head coach Josh Huepel. This fueled Manning's transfer portal chatter even more.
Arch's transfer portal chatter first caught fire when the Longhorns' QB1 Quinn Ewers, who was expected to declare for the 2024 NFL draft, decided to come back for another year. This meant another year of waiting for Manning unless Ewers faces an injury in the middle of the season.
Fans will be interested to see how Texas performs during their first year playing in the Southern Eastern Conference in the 2024 CFB season.