Peyton Manning’s son is already getting hit with major recruiting buzz, even though his high school role is still a backup one.
Marshall Manning, 15, has spent this fall learning behind a veteran starter at the Baylor School in Chattanooga. He transferred from Denver before eighth grade, has worn No. 16 like his father did at Tennessee, and hasn’t yet moved ahead of four-star senior Keegan Croucher, an Ole Miss commit. That has kept Marshall’s varsity snaps limited, but it hasn’t stopped college programs from paying attention.
His varsity debut came in August against Brentwood Academy, and he made his first snap count right away. On that first play, Marshall completed an eight-yard pass to junior receiver Antwaun Adams for a first down. That small moment has remained the clip most recruiters are passing around, and it’s also the sort of play that sparked the early comparison chatter after his August scrimmage debut.
The offer list has grown from there. 247Sports lists scholarship offers from No.
4 Miami and No. 5 Ohio State, along with Purdue and Missouri State.
Even with that surge in interest, Manning has not announced a commitment, and no visit schedule has been made public.
The family connections around his recruitment are obvious, but they haven’t changed the current picture at Baylor. Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Texas are still the names people bring up first, even though none of those three is on the current offer list.
Arch Manning weighed in on the attention surrounding his cousin earlier this week and kept his answer casual: “Marshall’s got a lot of advice,” Arch told People. “I just wanna be the fun cousin and, you know, talk about anything else. And if he wants advice, I’ll give it to him, but I just wanna be a cousin and friends, and have fun.”
Peyton and Eli are there too if Marshall ever wants a more formal voice in his ear. For now, though, the next step is simple: more snaps, not a signing day.
In Other News...
UCLA Suddenly Has A New Offensive Question After Stunning Oregon Win
UCLAs 17-15 upset of Oregon in Eugene gave the Bruins a long-awaited breakthrough, their first win there since 2004, and it came with the kind of defensive backbone that can change a seasons mood in a hurry. Cornerbacks Scooter Jackson and TaShawn James helped make life miserable for the Ducks, while receiver Morgan emerged as the most dependable option in a passing game that never really found its comfort zone.
The victory, though, left UCLA with a fresh offensive question to sort through in the days ahead after the quarterback situation shifted in the second half and the Bruins had to lean on Ty Dieffenbach in difficult circumstances. He settled in well enough to keep the game moving, but with the starters status now part of the conversation and the passing attack still searching for consistency, UCLAs next step may depend as much on how it handles that position as on the confidence this win should provide. [Read more 🡒]
UCLAs Oregon Win May Have Created A Massive QB Problem
UCLAs win over Oregon came with a painful price, and it may change the shape of the season at the most important position on the field. Nico Iamaleava, who has been the Bruins starting quarterback, is expected to miss the rest of the year after suffering a knee injury in the game, leaving the staff to sort through a suddenly thin depth chart at quarterback.
Madden Iamaleava and Ty Dieffenbach are the names to watch as UCLA looks for its next starter, and the Bruins are also waiting on injury updates for Roderick Pleasant and Tao Johnson. Dieffenbach already saw action in the second half against Oregon, which at least gives UCLA a live in-game reference as it tries to figure out what comes next for an offense that just lost its centerpiece. [Read more 🡒]
UCLA Just Exposed A Huge Oregon Problem Fans Will Love
UCLAs win over Oregon did more than hand the Ducks another ugly result, it pulled back the curtain on a program that arrived with preseason heavyweight expectations and is now trying to steady itself after tumbling out of the rankings. The offense was the main culprit in the loss, with turnovers and inconsistency overshadowing a defense that has at least gotten a better recent stretch from tackle AMauri Washington and a punting game that has been solid whenever Bailey Ettridge has been asked to work.
The bigger concern is the quarterback situation, because Oregons path forward is far less clear than it was a few weeks ago. Dante Moores status remains uncertain after the concussion issue, and Dylan Raiolas first start did not provide much relief against UCLA, leaving the Ducks searching for answers while running back Jordon Davison continues to score without yet breaking through for a 100-yard rushing game this season. [Read more 🡒]