The Manning quarterback tree keeps growing, and the next name to watch is Marshall Manning.
Peyton Manning’s son is set to begin his freshman year at Baylor School in Tennessee, but he won’t be handed the job right away. Instead, he’ll open his high school career as a backup behind a more experienced quarterback.
As Rivals’ Andy Villamarzo reported after speaking with Baylor head coach Erik Kimrey on the “Voice of High School Football Podcast,” Marshall Manning will start out in a reserve role.
“Marshall Manning is our backup quarterback this year. He’ll be a freshman, so we’re excited about him,” Kimrey told Villamarzo.
For now, Manning is unranked, and he’ll be learning behind 2027 four-star recruit and Ole Miss commit Keegan Croucher. Croucher is ranked No. 122 nationally and No. 10 among quarterbacks, and his recruiting path has been anything but ordinary. He picked the Rebels over offers from Miami, Penn State, Michigan and Oregon.
Croucher began at Fonda-Fultonville (NY) as a freshman, then moved to Cheshire Academy (CT) for his sophomore and junior seasons. After that, he transferred to Brentwood Academy (TN), and as of writing appears set to finish his high school career at Baylor.
He’s also stepping into a major role. Baylor needs a new starter after Louisville signee and four-star freshman Briggs Cherry, who led the school to a Tennessee Division II Class AAA championship and went 24-1 over his two seasons as the starter.
Cherry wasn’t immediately named the guy at Baylor either, and that path worked out just fine. Manning’s turn, though, will have to wait. For now, the spotlight stays on the family name - and on the backup spot.
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Vanderbilt Commit Gabe Nesmith Is Giving Fans Something To Debate
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The debate, of course, comes from the rough edges that still show up in the scoring numbers. Nesmith has flashed his playmaking, including a big passing stretch during the event, but the shot has not always followed, leaving evaluators to weigh the long-term upside against the current inconsistency. Vanderbilt clearly believes the foundation is there, especially with his physical tools and defensive potential, but the next steps in his development will be worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]