Arch Manning, the nation's No. 1, makes shocking pick for college football

Austin, Texas - The Texas Longhorns made a seismic gain with the addition of the No. 1 high school football player in the country Arch Manning, as he announced his surprising commitment to the program Thursday afternoon.

Arch Manning is a 5-star quarterback and the No. 1 Player in the country.
Arch Manning is a 5-star quarterback and the No. 1 Player in the country.  © Jacob Kupferman / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP

When the recruiting chronicles of Arch Manning took a turn over the weekend during his trip to the National runner-ups the Crimson Tide, many speculated the heir of NFL greats would end up in Alabama at one of the richest programs in college football history.

However, on Thursday afternoon, Manning took to Twitter to carve his own path with an exciting and shocking announcement that he has committed to the Texas Longhorns.

Despite the Longhorns' clear lack of on-field success last season, especially in comparison to Manning’s other powerhouse choices, Texas was always a constant in his recruitment, and arguably the front-runner from the onset.

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Manning chose the Longhorns over big name suitors that included defending National champions and runner-ups Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Clemson, and Virginia.

Arch Manning is looking to continue to his family's football legacy

Arch Manning is the nephew of NFL legends Eli and Peyton Manning, the grandson of NFL Hall of Famer Archie Manning, and son of former Ole Miss wide receiver Cooper Manning.

As the No. 1-ranked high school player in the country, he is currently the quarterback for Isidore Newman High School in New Orleans, having thrown for 5,731 yards and 72 touchdowns in his first three years of high school football.

The Texas Longhorns have a history when it comes to landing commitments from No. 1 quarterbacks. 2002's top prospect Vince Young committed to Texas, eventually winning a national championship. In the summer of 2020, then-No. 1 2022 prospect Quinn Ewers also committed to Texas.

Cover photo: Collage: JACOB KUPFERMAN / TIM WARNER / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / GETTY IMAGES VIA AFP

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