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Tennessee football: Five reasons Vol fans can stomach Arch Manning to Texas

By Caleb Calhoun

Quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass as Newman takes on Lafayette Christian Academy in the LHSAA Division III semifinals on Nov. 24, 2021.Arch Manning
Quarterback Arch Manning (16) throws a pass as Newman takes on Lafayette Christian Academy in the LHSAA Division III semifinals on Nov. 24, 2021.Arch Manning /
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It looks like Tennessee football won’t be landing Arch Manning. The son of Cooper Manning, grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of UT legend Peyton Manning, who is the No. 1 rated recruit out of New Orleans across the nation as a quarterback, is staying in the SEC, but he has decided to go to the other UT school that will join in a couple years.

Yes, the Texas Longhorns won out on the biggest recruiting race of the year. While Peyton and Eli Manning chose Rocky Top and the Ole Miss Rebels for David Cutcliffe, Arch Manning chose Texas for Steve Sarkisian. He announced his commitment Thursday afternoon on Twitter.

To a certain degree, it was expected that he wasn’t choosing Tennessee football. His decision to go to Texas isn’t the worst thing in the world given what Vol fans were dreading. In fact, most fans on Rocky Top can tolerate this a lot more easily than you might expect. Here are five reasons they are okay with Manning heading to Austin.

Peyton Manning’s nephew chose the Longhorns over the Tennessee football Volunteers, but fans can stomach that.

Jan 1, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Cooper Manning, left, with his father Archie Manning before the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 1, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; Cooper Manning, left, with his father Archie Manning before the Sugar Bowl at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory Credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Arch Manning is technically not a legacy player.

If we were talking about Marshall Manning, the son of Peyton Manning, then this would be a much bigger gut punch. Remember how it felt for Vol fans when Cade Mays, the son of UT offensive lineman Kevin Mays, committed to the Georgia Bulldogs? What about when Amari Rodgers, the son of Tee Martin committed to the Clemson Tigers.

Well, it’s nowhere near the same in this case. Arch Manning’s father, Cooper Manning, is part of the Ole Miss legacy, as he went there to play wide receiver in 1992 before suffering a condition that ended his career. As a result, he has no direct connection to the Vols.

Taking that into account, Tennessee football had no inherent advantage in terms of landing the highly touted prospect. Sure, he appears to be the best Manning of all time, combining the athleticism of Cooper and Archie along with the pocket presence of Peyton and Eli, but it doesn’t really mean the Vols lost out in any way.

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