LSU Football: The must get quarterback for the Tigers

There’s a 2023 quarterback that should be considered a must-get for LSU football.

There’s not a program in the country that aims to dominate in-state recruiting quite like LSU football.

The Tigers have always made landing players from Lousiana (which is ripe with elite talent) a priority.

And Ed Orgeron, a native of Larose, LA, has placed an even greater emphasis on in-state recruiting since taking over as LSU’s permanent head coach in late 2016.

It goes without saying that every elite recruit in Louisiana is a top priority for LSU. But there’s one in-state recruit, specifically, that should be considered a must-get for the Tigers.

New Orleans native Arch Manning.

Why LSU football has to land Arch Manning

Arch Manning, a 2023 recruit, has only one year of high school experience under his belt. But he’s already one of the top quarterback recruits in the nation.

As a freshman in high school, Manning tossed for 2,438 yards, 34 touchdowns, and only six interceptions.

Those are tremendous high school numbers. They’re even better when you consider that Manning is ONLY 15 YEARS OLD.

Manning has the pedigree, the size (he’s already 6-foot-3/190 lbs), and the physical ability to be a dominant quarterback in the SEC.

The only question, of course, is where will Manning play college football?

Ole Miss will obviously be perceived as the favorite, because of the Manning family tradition. Archie and Olivia Manning (Arch’s grandparents) attended Ole Miss. Cooper Manning (Arch’s father) and Eli Manning (Arch’s uncle) also attended Ole Miss.

But that doesn’t necessarily mean that Arch will end up in Oxford.

It’s important to remember that Peyton Manning, Arch’s other uncle, played college football at Tennessee. Archie and Olivia made sure to let Peyton make his own decision. And so far, the Manning family is taking the same approach with Arch.

Archie said earlier this year the family wants to let Arch enjoy being a freshman in high school. In fact, the family hasn’t even let programs officially extend scholarship offers to Arch just yet.

Eventually, however, Arch will have some decisions to make. And I think it’s obvious it will be solely his decision.

Ole Miss will obviously be a big factor. But I think LSU has the best chance to land the young prodigy.

(I don’t think Tennessee, by the way, will be much of a factor.)

If Arch were to go to Ole Miss, the story would be all about the Manning family. It would be Archie this or Eli that. There would be constant comparisons.

But if Arch goes to LSU, he can create his own legacy. Sure, the inevitable comparisons would still happen. But in Baton Rouge, Arch would be able to be Arch Manning first and Eli’s nephew second.

Plus, he’d be a lot closer to home. Arch’s family has roots in New Orleans that date back nearly 50 years. If he chose LSU, his family would be able to check in from time to time — not just for games, but also for practices or random visits.

LSU — especially with its high powered, quarterback friendly offense — makes all the sense in the world for Arch.

Ole Miss, with a renegade coach like Lane Kiffin, does not sense.

Ed Orgeron and the Tigers need to make sure they spend the next couple of years focusing on securing a signature from Arch Manning.