SEC Football

Texas quarterback Arch Manning isn't letting the success of his relatives affect his mindset and approach heading into the 2025 season.

In an interview with ESPN's Marty Smith, Manning was asked what comes with his last name that others aren't able to understand.

"I think a lot of underserved attention, but hopefully it gets more deserving in the next few months," Manning said (4:34 mark).

"I don't think I've done enough yet to be taking a lot of pictures at restaurants and signing autographs," he added. "But maybe that'll come eventually."

The Longhorns signal-caller is the nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning, who combined to make 18 Pro Bowl appearances and win four Super Bowl titles throughout their careers.

He's also the grandson of Archie Manning, who spent 13 years in the NFL and earned two Pro Bowl nods.

When asked to compare his playing style to one member from the rest of his family, the 19-year-old chose his grandfather.

"I think probably my grandfather," Arch explained (5:11 mark). "He could run around a little bit, make plays, use a little more of his athleticism. But I like to take bits and pieces of everyone."

He also revealed advice that he's received from Eli and Peyton.

"Just have fun, be a good guy and be all about the team," Arch said (11:49 mark).

The youngest Manning isn't only surrounded by hype due to the rest of his family, as he was considered the No. 1 overall player in the 2023 recruiting class (via 247Sports' composite rankings).

He played sparingly during his first year with the Longhorns, but he received extended time on the field in 2024 once starter Quinn Ewers suffered an oblique strain during a clash with UTSA on Sept. 14.

Manning seemed comfortable while replacing Ewers against UTSA and also looked sharp in two consecutive starts afterwards, completing 69.4 percent of his throws for 806 yards and eight touchdowns to go along with a pair of interceptions over that span.

With Ewers declaring for the 2025 NFL draft, Manning is set to start for the Longhorns next season as they look to build upon a 13-3 record in 2024.

While he doesn't believe that he's done enough to warrant the attention he's received just yet, Manning is hoping to change that soon.

Texas quarterback Arch Manning is already expected to be the team's starter for the 2025 season, and he scored another win off the field.

Manning announced on Thursday that he has secured an NIL deal with Red Bull. According to Dan Morrison of On3.com, the 19-year-old now has an NIL valuation of $6.6 million, the highest of any college or high school sports athlete.

Arch Manning officially announces his new NIL deal with Red Bull. Would expect first of many for Texas’ QB1. pic.twitter.com/HSvDqMSBWm

— SEC Unfiltered (@SECUnfiltered) January 30, 2025

Manning addressed his NIL deal with Red Bull in an interview with ESPN's Marty Smith.

"I really like this partnership. Everyone at Red Bull has been super nice to me and my family and I can't wait to get it going," Manning said. "Plus, I like a Red Bull in the morning... We got early meetings, need a little energy."

After redshirting his freshman year in 2023, Manning spent the 2024 season as the primary backup to Longhorns quarterback Quinn Ewers. He appeared in 10 games and made two starts, showing a glimpse of his famous family lineage as the nephew of legendary quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning.

In his 10 appearances, the youngster threw for 939 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions while completing 67.8 percent of his passes. He also added 108 rushing yards and four more scores, and Texas won both of the games he started.

The 2025 season will be Manning's opportunity to establish himself as the top quarterback prospect in the 2026 NFL draft, and he's already on the right track.

Jalen Milroe is one of the more polarizing players in this year's draft, with some placing him as an early pick and others projecting him as a Day 2 or 3 selection.

According to Jim Nagy, there's a wide range for where the Alabama quarterback could land, but he's in a better position than Philadelphia Eagles star Jalen Hurts was before he was drafted.

"I think he's ahead of where Jalen Hurts was. We know that now because we have the calls with the teams," Nagy said on Check the Mic. "[Hurts] was a fourth or fifth-round draft pick for most teams, we all know he ended up going in the second [round] to Philly and he's outplayed that even. There's a pretty wide range on Jalen [Milroe]. I think some range from late first to late third, early fourth, depending on what team you talk to. It's a pretty wide range, but he's ahead of where Jalen Hurts was."

"Jalen Milroe's ahead of where Jalen Hurts was." 👀

@JimNagy_SB and @StevePalazzolo_ discuss Milroe's potential draft position ⤵️ https://t.co/V8eKIjeH9E pic.twitter.com/bAS7EzlzyT

— The 33rd Team (@The33rdTeamFB) January 29, 2025

Milroe, who spent four years at Alabama and two years as the Crimson Tide's starter, threw for 2,844 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions last season. His passing numbers were fine, but he excelled on the ground, rushing for 726 yards and 20 touchdowns in 2024.

While the draft is still a ways away, the Miami Herald's C. Isaiah Smalls reported that Milroe has spoken with the Miami Dolphins about their backup quarterback position and Milroe said those talks "went well." The Dolphins have the 13th pick in the first round.

Milroe likely won't be one of the first players off the board like fellow quarterbacks Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders, but being in a better position than Hurts, who is gearing up for his second Super Bowl appearance, is a good indication that it might not take too long for his name to be called.

Arch Manning is gearing up for his first season as Texas' starting quarterback, and he already has high expectations.

The nephew of legendary quarterbacks Eli and Peyton Manning is the Heisman Trophy favorite at +700 odds, via DraftKings Sportsbook. Just behind him sits LSU's Garrett Nussmeier (+900), Penn State's Drew Allar (+1000) and Clemson's Cade Clubnik (+1400).

Heisman odds have arrived. Many thoughts. We'll break this down in detail in the weeks ahead, but there is value all over the place. pic.twitter.com/yVLjKqOlca

— Adam Kramer (@KegsnEggs) January 28, 2025

Despite Manning being one of the more inexperienced names among players with the best odds, it's not that surprising to see him top the list. The former No. 1 player in the Class of 2023 has garnered immense hype over the last few years and only added to it with some impressive showings in his limited action in 2024.

Manning appeared in 10 games for the Longhorns last season but only started two of those contests. He played most of Texas' game against UTSA in September, throwing for 223 yards and four touchdowns while picking up 53 rushing yards and a touchdown on the ground.

The following week, he made his first start for Texas with usual start Quinn Ewers dealing with an injury. In that game against ULM, he threw for 258 yards, two touchdowns and a pair of interceptions. His best game of the season came in his second start when he collected 325 passing yards and three total touchdowns against Mississippi State.

ARCH MANNING WITH AN ABSOLUTE DOT FOR THE TD 🔥 🎯

(via @TexasFootball)
pic.twitter.com/NsqFsYGTTK

— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) September 28, 2024

Texas will now hand the reigns over to Manning with Ewers departing for the NFL draft, and all signs point to him having a big year.

Nussmeier debuted as the starter for LSU in 2024 and had a great season with 4,052 passing yards, 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. His passing yards total was the second-best in the SEC and he was also tied for the second-most touchdowns.

Allar is also coming off a career season, picking up 3,327 passing yards, 24 touchdowns and eight interceptions. He added 302 rushing yards and six touchdowns on the ground as he led Penn State to the CFP semifinals.

Klubkik was one of the best quarterbacks in football last year, leading the ACC in passing touchdowns (39) and racking up the second-most passing yards (4,313).

While the players with the best odds are mostly quarterbacks, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith emerge as a favorite at some point this season. He's coming off a true freshman season in which he had 1,315 receiving yards and 15 touchdowns, and those numbers should only improve in 2025.

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 262

HAND: 9¾”

ARM: 34"

WINGSPAN: 81½”

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40-YARD DASH: 4.73

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POSITIVES

— Good burst off the line of scrimmage to win with speed around the edge paired with a solid rip move as a pass-rusher.

— Quick and twitchy to develop an inside stick move as a counter if he gets his use of hands down.

— Takes good angles and has natural bend with flexible hips/lower half to corner and take an efficient path to the quarterback.

— As a run defender, he's quick to get his hands up and has long arms to get extension on blocks with added strength.

— Good production with 17.5 sacks and 27 TFLs over the last two seasons combined.

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NEGATIVES

— Lacks strength to hold his ground against offensive linemen as a run defender and will struggle to set the edge at the next level.

— Likes to work around blocks, causing him to leave his gap.

— Sub-par strength also hurts his ability to turn speed to power as a pass-rusher and will lead to him getting washed inside if offensive tackles can get their hands on him.

— Inaccurate with his hands/initial chops as a pass-rusher, often missing and making it difficult to 'defeat the hands and defeat the man'.

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NOTES

— Born Dec. 12, 2001

— A 3-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Transferred from Georgia Tech ahead of 2024 season

— No major injuries

— 2024: Bronko Nagurski Trophy winner; SEC Defensive Player of the Year; Consensus All-American; First-Team All-SEC; led SEC in sacks

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OVERALL

Kyle Kennard has been a riser in this year's draft class after an impressive campaign that earned him plenty of recognition. That's primarily due to his work as a pass-rusher, leading the SEC with 11.5 sacks in 2024.

Kennard has a good get-off to win with speed around the edge while also showing an impressive rip or dip-rip move and bend to corner at the top of the rush. He also has twitch to help develop some inside counter moves down the line and has flashed a decent spin move. But he does need to improve his use of hands to flush those moves out.

Against the run, the South Carolina product is decent at taking blocks from tight ends and has tools to grow in that department. However, he needs to add some size and strength to set the edge against offensive linemen in the NFL.

The problem is he's already put on 16 pounds from his last season at Georgia Tech—based on the roster weights—and is an older prospect, so there's a question about how much more weight he can effectively put on.

Overall, Kennard can contribute as a third-down or situational pass rusher and has potential to develop as a run defender. Schematically, he'd be best as a standup outside linebacker in odd fronts.

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GRADE: 6.9 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 117

POSITION RANK: EDGE15

PRO COMPARISON: Byron Young with better length

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'2"

WEIGHT: 229

HAND: 9⅝"

ARM: 32⅝"

WINGSPAN: 80⅛”

---

40-YARD DASH: 4.58

BROAD: 10'10"

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POSITIVES

— Solid size and a good frame to add weight, also has long arms.

— Good speed to carry tight ends and running backs on vertical routes, get to his spot in zone coverage, play Tampa 2 and help range against the run.

— Has solid instincts in coverage, puts himself in a position to stay in phase when playing man coverage or pattern matching, and shows eye discipline in zone coverage to locate threats coming into his area.

— Avoids the trash well in coverage and against the run.

— Good at finding lanes as a pass rusher to take advantage of breakdowns in protection schemes when blitzing.

— Sure tackler who wraps up and runs his feet through contact.

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NEGATIVES

— Sub-par instincts as a run defender, will fall for eye candy and can take too long to key and diagnose.

— Not strong enough to constrict running lanes against offensive linemen, needs to add some size and strength.

— Lacks pop behind his pads when taking on blocks or tackling, bigger running backs will get extra yards after contact against him.

— Lacks some short-area quickness to get in and out of his breaks, impacting his ability to cover angle routes and to close in coverage.

— Doesn't have an effective go-to pass-rush move when blitzing.

— Lengthy injury history.

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NOTES

— Born Feb. 13, 2003

— A 5-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2024 (Foot, missed 4 games), 2023 (Left foot, missed spring game, had surgery in the offseason), 2022 (Ankle, missed 2 games)

— 2023: Second-Team All-SEC

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OVERALL

Smael Mondon is a solid athlete who could be a good coverage linebacker in the NFL. He can be effective in man coverage with route recognition and speed, showing the ability to avoid picks and carry running backs and tight ends on vertical routes. Also, he has good eye discipline in zone coverage to locate threats and help tighten throwing windows.

Mondon has the potential to grow as a run defender at the next level as he takes on blocks with his hands, has long arms to get extension and rarely misses tackles. However, he needs to get stronger to be more stout against offensive linemen and avoid giving up extra yards to bigger running backs.

While Mondon put up 25 reps on the bench press at Georgia's pro day, he could use more lower body strength.

Also, the former Bulldog relies heavily on his speed against outside runs. His ability to key and diagnose run plays is sub-par, forcing him to play catchup and chase down running backs toward the sideline. That's worked in college but could be a bigger issue in the NFL against more complicated rushing schemes and faster backs.

Mondon's medicals could scare some teams away as he's suffered several lower-body injuries at Georgia. However, he's a good fit for a team that's looking for an athletic linebacker who can cover and contribute on special teams.

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GRADE: 6.5 (Potential Role Player — 4th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 161

POSITION RANK: LB11

PRO COMPARISON: Troy Dye

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'4"

WEIGHT: 325

HAND: 9¾"

ARM: 33"

WINGSPAN: 79⅛"

40-YARD DASH: 5.15

3-CONE: NA

SHUTTLE: 4.66

VERTICAL: 32"

BROAD: 9'2"

---

POSITIVES

— Dense, thick build with good square power and play strength to cover up and uproot targets on short pull kick-outs, base and down blocks.

— Can drop his hips and root his feet to sit down and eat the bull-rush using girth and core strength.

— Times the snap well when needed to initially square up his target on backside 2i/1T cut-offs.

— Strains and drives his legs through contact as a finisher to widen defenders off of their spot and catch them leaning into the lane before dumping them.

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NEGATIVES

— Below average, sluggish redirect and recovery skills leave him overextended and off-balance against shifty moves across his face.

— Middling arm length coupled with a tendency to punch down the middle of rushers creates a soft outside edge and short corners.

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NOTES

— Born Feb. 2, 2002

— 4-star recruit from the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— 30 career starts at left guard (24), left tackle (three) and center (one)

— Missed six games during the 2022 season due to a broken hand and MCL sprain

— Suffered an ankle injury on play 30 of LSU's Week eight game against Texas A&M that required tightrope surgery and kept him out for the remainder of the season

— Accepted his invite to the 2025 Senior Bowl

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OVERALL

Garrett Dellinger is a three-year starter primarily at left guard including seven starts during the 2024 season inside LSU's 59-41 pass-run split, multiple-run scheme. Dellinger has a dense build, thick midsection and core with adequate movement skills and good play strength.

Dellinger uses his girth and good square power to cover up, uproot and dig targets off of their spot on short pull kick-out, base and down blocks. He strains and runs his feet to tally the occasional knockdown when he catches defenders leaning into the hole and has solid snap timing to compensate for middling athletic ability and get him to his initial landmark on backside cut-offs against 2i/1T alignments. Dellinger's below-average redirect and recovery skills leave him overextended and off-balance against sudden post-snap movement across his face that results in soft edges and gradual and/or quick penetration.

In pass protection Dellinger is a sturdy presence against the bull-rush and power with a stiff punch to provide firm help when uncovered. Dellinger flashes the ability to bait and circle around rushers to get them corralled but will also punch down the middle or be late to strike that leaves him out-leveraged and susceptible to getting lifted and/or edged quickly.

Overall, Dellinger has a thick, sturdy build with good play strength and square power that make him an effective downhill run blocker but mediocre movement skills sap his sustain skills and signal a backup guard.

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GRADE: 5.5 (Backup/Draftable — Round 7)

OVERALL RANK: 269

POSITION RANK: IOL30

PRO COMPARISON: Landon Young

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Brandon Thorn

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'6"

WEIGHT: 283

HAND: 9⅛"

ARM: 33¾"

WINGSPAN: 82¾”

---

40-YARD DASH: 5.15

3-CONE: 7.56

SHUTTLE: 4.68

VERTICAL: 30.5"

BROAD: 9'5"

---

POSITIVES

— Great size for an NFL defensive end and has long arms.

— Strong and physical at the point of attack to set the edge against the run, and he uses his length well to get extension on blocks.

— Solid at getting off blocks by shedding or using an arm-over move to escape.

— Has the strength to close the gap with tight ends.

— As a pass-rusher, he sets up his moves well by showing decent agility to stem from inside to outside leverage or vice versa.

— Solid power rusher who can be effective as the pick player in line games and win with a push-pull move.

— Has flashed decent hand-swipe and arm-over moves when his use of hands is on time.

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NEGATIVES

— Sub-par get-off, lacks explosion off the line of scrimmage.

— Bullrush is negatively impacted by the sub-par get-off, high pad level out of his stance and lack of leg drive through contact.

— Inconsistent timing with his use of hands as a pass-rusher, he will allow offensive tackles to make the first significant contact.

— Has a habit of going inside and losing outside contain as a pass-rusher.

— Below-average hip and ankle flexibility to bend or corner at the top of the rush.

— Not a high-motor player, will take plays off.

---

NOTES

— Born Dec. 5, 2001

— A 4-star recruit in the 2020 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2024 (Left ankle sprain, missed 1 game)

— Transferred from Georgia Tech ahead of the 2022 season

— 2024: Third-Team All-SEC

— 2023: First-Team All-SEC

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OVERALL

Jared Ivey passes the initial eye test as he looks the part of an NFL defensive end with his impressive size. He combines that with long arms and plenty of strength to project as a quality run defender at the next level.

Ivey has little to no issues setting the edge against zone runs and gets under pullers to spill gap runs outside. Also, he's good at getting off blocks to make tackles and is too physical and strong for offenses to leave him alone against tight ends, even on the backside of plays.

As a pass-rusher, the Ole Miss product's best move is a push-pull as he has the strength to pull offensive linemen's shoulders down. He can also be effective as the pick player in line games and has shown solid arm-over and hand-swipe moves. However, the latter are dependent on the timing with his hands which is still a work in progress.

Additionally, Ivey's bend is sub-par and he has bad pass-rush lane integrity, often ducking inside and losing outside contain on quarterbacks. Because of that, he might be better suited as an interior rusher on passing downs. But his get-off and pad level will need improvement to be a more effective bull-rusher on the inside.

Overall, Ivey can at least be a good two-down player who is a starter during his rookie contract, especially as an even front defensive end. How much he'll be able to contribute as a pass-rusher is questionable, but a team that already has a good pass-rush specialist on the edge and is willing to work with him on the interior should be intrigued by Ivey's game.

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GRADE: 7.2 (High-Level Backup/Potential Starter — 3rd Round)

OVERALL RANK: 91

POSITION RANK: EDGE14

PRO COMPARISON: John Franklin-Myers

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

HEIGHT: 6'1"

WEIGHT: 246

HAND: 9¼"

ARM: 32"

WINGSPAN: 78½”

---

40-YARD DASH: 4.60

VERTICAL: 37.5

BROAD: 10'6"

---

POSITIVES

— Takes command of the defense pre-snap, constant communicator and points out motions to help get everyone on the same page.

— Solid instincts as a run defender to read his keys and get to the right spot, also knows when to shoot the gap.

— Physical when taking on blocks from tight ends, and he has some quickness to occasionally slip blocks from offensive linemen climbing to the second level.

— In zone coverage, he reads the quarterback's eyes well to anticipate throws and tighten windows or help teammates in coverage.

— Effective as the pick player on stunts when blitzing, he sells vertical and is aggressive to catch offensive linemen off guard and get pressure.

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NEGATIVES

— Sub-par athlete overall who will get beat by running backs and tight ends in man coverage.

— Lacks change of direction skills to quickly transition in coverage, impacting his ability to click and close.

— Struggles to locate threats coming into his area in zone coverage due to bad eye discipline.

— Doesn't break down well when tackling in space, leading to misses or overpursuing.

— Takes on blocks with his shoulder against offensive linemen and doesn't have enough strength to win at the point of attack.

— Angles in pursuit need work, he'll be both too shallow and too deep.

---

NOTES

— Born Nov. 28, 2001

— A 4-star recruit in the 2021 class, per 247Sports

— Injuries: 2024 (Undisclosed, missed 1 game), 2023 (Broken left forearm, season-ending missed 5 games)

— Arrested for racing and reckless driving in 2023

— Transferred from Georgia ahead of the 2024 season

— 2024: Third-Team All-SEC

— 2022: First-Team All-American, Second-Team All-SEC

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OVERALL

After winning a National Championship and becoming an All-American during his sophomore season, Jamon Dumas-Johnson had the makings of someone who could become a top linebacker prospect and a complete player in the NFL. However, he's regressed since then due to injuries and putting on some bad weight.

The latter appears to have affected Dumas-Johnson's athleticism as he looked thicker and slower this past season at Kentucky than he did during the 2022 campaign at Georgia. That showed up most in his coverage skills as his transitions and ability to close, taking longer to get in and out of his breaks.

Against the run, the former Wildcat and Bulldog has decent instincts to get to the right spot and has shown the ability to slip blocks from offensive linemen with his quickness. However, linemen who are more athletic and under control when working up to the second level can swallow him up since he doesn't use his hands when taking on blocks.

Overall, Dumas-Johnson is worth taking a flier on during Day 3 of the draft to see if he can return to the 2022 form. At the least, he can be a solid backup at MIKE or SAM linebacker in the NFL.

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GRADE: 6.3 (Developmental Prospect — 5th Round)

OVERALL RANK: 225

POSITION RANK: LB14

PRO COMPARISON: Derrick Barnes

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Written by B/R NFL Scout Matt Holder

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Prospect workout numbers, measurables (40-yard dash, hand size, etc.) and 2024 statistics will be added at a later date.

Nick Saban said on The Pivot Podcast that if he had to choose today, he'd prefer to coach in the NFL over college football because of the sport's changing landscape.

"It was—I love coaching pro ball," Saban said. "I mean, and if I was going to coach today based on circumstances in college and in the NFL, I would coach in the NFL because all those things in college have changed.

"The whole idea of what college used to be is not there anymore. I mean, it used to be you went to college to develop value for your future. Now, people are going to college to see how much money they can make.

"And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that, but you change the whole dynamic of the importance of getting an education, making good decisions and choices about what you do and what you don't do to create value for your future. You change that whole dynamic and the idea that these guys are free agents twice a year and they can just go wherever they want."

College sports have changed quite a bit since NCAA implemented name, image and likeness policies (NIL) in June 2021. The transfer portal has become an oft-used tool after student-athletes no longer had to sit a year after switching schools beginning in 2021. At first, it was just one-time transfers, but now multi-time transfer no longer have to wait either.

The feelings Saban expressed on the podcast have bubbled to the surface recently, with ESPN's Chris Low providing some insight in March 2024.

According to Low, Saban spoke with Alabama athletic director Greg Byrne after the 2022 season about the possibility of leaving.

"Greg, this is getting more and more difficult on me," Saban told Byrne, per Low. "I'm not ready to do it now, but we're going to have to start evaluating this more on a year-to-year basis."

One year later, Saban was gone, telling Low:

"I thought we could have a hell of a team next year, and then maybe 70 or 80 percent of the players you talk to, all they want to know is two things: What assurances do I have that I'm going to play because they're thinking about transferring, and how much are you going to pay me?

"Our program here was always built on how much value can we create for your future and your personal development, academic success in graduating and developing an NFL career on the field.

"So I'm saying to myself, 'Maybe this doesn't work anymore, that the goals and aspirations are just different and that it's all about how much money can I make as a college player?' I'm not saying that's bad. I'm not saying it's wrong, I'm just saying that's never been what we were all about, and it's not why we had success through the years."

The 73-year-old Saban has enjoyed a lengthy and phenomenal five-decade coaching career that includes a 292-71-1 collegiate record at Toledo, Michigan State, LSU and Alabama. He won seven national titles—one with LSU and six at Alabama.

It appeared that Saban could have had something left in the tank in the pre-NIL era, but the changing landscape was perhaps the final straw.

In another life, Saban is perhaps a longtime NFL coach then. He does have some experience in the pros, first with the Cleveland Browns as their defensive coordinator from 1991-1994 under Bill Belichick and then later as the Miami Dolphins' head coach from 2005-2006.

He'll forever be a legend for his time in college, though, particularly in Alabama, which went 201-29 under his watch.