Peyton Manning’s 15-year-old son, Marshall Manning, is already drawing enough attention that a sitting U.S. congressman felt compelled to say something about it.
Rep. Tim Burchett, who represents Tennessee's 2nd Congressional District, addressed the growing buzz around the Baylor freshman after his official varsity debut against Brentwood Academy.
"He knows he's Peyton's kid and Archie's grandson," Burchett said, according to Pro Football Network. "Let him have some fun and be a kid."
Marshall’s first varsity appearance came in Baylor’s nationally televised Aug. 20 opener on ESPN2. He entered midway through the second quarter, rolled to his right and completed his first varsity pass to junior receiver Antwaun Adams for a first down.
The reaction around him has been predictably intense. The moment the Manning name and quarterback position show up together, people start treating every snap like a headline. In Marshall’s case, the actual play was a five-yard out route and a quick jog back to the sideline, but that has not slowed the fascination.
That kind of attention comes with the family tree. Marshall is Peyton Manning’s son, Eli Manning’s nephew, Archie Manning’s grandson and Arch Manning’s cousin.
Baylor, though, seems far more interested in developing him than turning him into a spectacle. He is currently backing up senior four-star quarterback and Ole Miss commit Keegan Croucher. Coach Erik Kimrey said Marshall’s appearance against Brentwood Academy was part of the developmental process, and he hopes to get him into games throughout the season, even if some of those chances amount to only a couple of plays.
For now, the attention keeps building. Burchett’s message was simple: let the kid breathe. The rest of the country, apparently, is still trying to catch up.
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