No name in college football draws as much attention today as Arch Manning, and rightly so. The undisputed QB1 for the Texas Longhorns and the biggest projected recruit of his class, Manning seems destined to become football royalty.
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But it’s also true that the 21-year-old has yet to prove himself across seasons. He hasn’t even thrown 1,000 yards in his career. But the hype around him has never slowed down. If anything, it’s only gotten louder.
And the latest to raise volume is a veteran CFB analyst. Appearing on The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Joel Klatt stated his opinion about the young quarterback rather emphatically, citing reasons too.
Arch Manning is “the second-best quarterback in college football,” said Klatt.
“The second best,” he repeated, while explaining why the Longhorns quarterback’s game is so lethal. “He threatens every blade of grass on the field. He’s accurate, smart, and better throwing the ball downfield than even Quinn Ewers was.”
Klatt then compared Manning’s movement and scrambling ability to Trevor Lawrence’s early Clemson days. “He flashed this ability to run… That looks like Trevor,” he added.
But if Arch Manning is No. 2, who’s No. 1? Klatt picked his top signal caller, too.
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According to Klatt, the top prospect is Clemson quarterback Cade Klubnik — a former five-star recruit and three-time state champ from Texas powerhouse Westlake High.
Klubnik impressively finished 2024 with the highest PFF passing grade among the group (87.7), thanks to his polished fundamentals and ability to read intermediate zone coverage. But at 6-foot-2 and 205 pounds, concerns linger about his size and how it impacts velocity and accuracy when throwing over the line.
Still, Klatt sees him as the most complete package heading into 2025, with Arch right behind him. And in terms of NFL projection, perhaps even neck and neck.
That said, some analysts have rated the Texas star as the clear-cut numero uno prospect next year. The Athletic‘s Nick Baumgardner, for instance, has Manning as the potential No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
It’s true that there’s no guarantee Manning will declare for the Draft next year. However, the conversation around his prospects stems from the fact that he has eligibility through the 2026 season to throw his hat into the NFL.
All said and done, Arch’s skills and potential are clear as day. A glimpse of this was seen last season, when Manning threw for 939 yards, 9 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and a QBR of 87.5 despite only coming in the middle of the season post-Quinn Ewers’ injury.
Despite his short stay, he was able to torch UL Monroe and Mississippi State’s defenses in back-to-back starts, totaling 583 passing yards and four touchdowns over those games.
So, is the hype deserved? Klatt thinks so. And based on the glimpses we’ve seen, Arch Manning isn’t just a name — he’s a quarterback with top-tier traits, elite lineage, and the rare potential to live up to both.
The dynamics for Arch change this year, with Ewers now in the NFL (drafted by the Miami Dolphins) and the QB1 spot being his. Safe to say, all eyes will be on him this season.
