Prep quarterback Arch Manning gets nationally televised showcase on ESPNU

The third generation of Manning quarterbacks is less than two years away from arriving on a college campus near you. 

Arch Manning, 16, is a top-ranked prospect in the class of 2023 with his pick of programs: Alabama, Georgia, Clemson and Texas have offered, along with Tennessee and Mississippi — his uncle Peyton was a Volunteer, while his uncle Eli and grandfather Archie both starred for the Rebels.

The junior at Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans is the son of Cooper Manning, the eldest of Archie's three sons and an accomplished athlete in his own right. Cooper was a wide receiver at Isidore Newman, catching passes from Peyton, and was committed to play at Ole Miss before being diagnosed with spinal stenosis, ending his playing career.

WHERE COULD HE GO:Breaking down where No. 1 recruit Arch Manning could attend college

Arch Manning and Isidore Newman will host Berkeley Prep (Tampa, Florida) on Friday night, in a game televised nationally on ESPNU (9 p.m., ET) as part of the network's high school showcase. 

How good is Arch Manning?

"We tread lightly in terms of comparing Arch," Isidore Newman coach Nelson Stewart said last year. Others are less shy. An ESPN analysis in May compared Manning to former Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck. Of course, there are inevitable comparisons to Peyton, Eli and Archie. On this there is universal agreement: Arch is a bona fide superstar prospect easily ranked among the top players regardless of position in the 2023 class. Among quarterbacks in that cycle, he's hard to beat.

What type of quarterback is he?

Manning is described as a pro-style quarterback, like Peyton and Eli, with enough athleticism to be a threat running the football. At 6-foot-4 and 215 pounds, he has the prototypical build for a dominant pocket passer and the agility to fit into the spread-based schemes that have taken root across the Football Bowl Subdivision.

Where is Arch Manning going to school?

Ole Miss and Tennessee offer the opportunity to follow in the footsteps of his uncles and grandfather. But Manning is expected to blaze his own path while still remaining inside the SEC. Two schools, Georgia and Texas, have moved to the top of his list; the Longhorns are expected to join the SEC by 2025, when Manning would be a junior. After a recent visit on campus, he said Texas had a "home feel." Don't be surprised if his recruitment wraps up before the end of the season.

Can't get enough of the Manning family?

Well, good news: ESPNU will lead into the Isidore Newman game with an entire day of Manning-centric programming featuring vintage games and documentaries. If you go to sleep early enough (or don't go to sleep at all), you can tune in beginning at 3:30 a.m. ET for a run of old Tennessee and Ole Miss games. How long has it been since you watched the 1997 game between the Volunteers and Arkansas? Twenty-four years? Six games starring Peyton and Eli will get you ready for Arch.