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Peyton Manning’s replica son impresses on debut as Arch’s biggest rival could come from own family
All eyes will be on Arch Manning in 2026, but another potential future star is already in the pipeline.
Marshall Manning, son of NFL Hall of Famer and two-time Super Bowl champion Peyton, made his high school football debut on Thursday night (August 20).
The 15-year-old played a couple snaps at quarterback for Baylor, in the TSSAA football season opener against Brentwood Academy.
Manning, wearing No. 16 like his father did during his college career at Tennessee, appeared in the second quarter of the game.
He completed an eight-yard pass to Antwaun Adams on an out route, and handed the ball off to David Gabriel Georges before subbing out.
Manning dressed for games as an eighth grader last season, but didn’t make it onto the field. Now a freshman, he featured in the season opener, in what has been described as a ‘planned cameo’.
This year, he will be backing up Ole Miss commit and 4-star prospect Keegan Croucher, who recently transferred to Baylor.
Croucher, who already stands at 6-foot-4, started against Brentwood Academy at Heywood Stadium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Baylor won 38-20 in a game that was televised by ESPN2.
Fans react to Marshall Manning’s high school debut
Five-star running back Georges, who has committed to Tennessee, was the standout player.
He totaled 172 rushing yards, 78 receiving yards and three touchdowns in the win.
Footage of Marshall’s debut, and first pass, was shared on social media and can be watched below.
The short clip, shared by SportsCenter NEXT, has already been viewed more than 2.4 million times, and has football fans excited about the next Manning up.
He was listed by the account as a 2030 quarterback, and some already think he’s showing shades of his Hall of Fame dad.
“Here we go, another Manning!” one wrote on X.
“He looks like Peyton when he was rolling out to throw the football. He sure is at a good school. Have a great season Marshall,” another said.
“Tennessee better lock this kid down,” a third wrote, urging the teenager to follow in his dad’s footsteps and play for the Vols.
“The real Manning the Browns are waiting for,” a fourth joked, comparing him to cousin Arch.
“This bloodline doesn’t miss,” a fifth said.
Arch Manning tipped to ‘set the world on fire’ in 2026
Marshall, of course, has plenty of high school ahead of him, and it will be quite some time before fans see him as a regular in college.
Cousin Arch, though, is gearing up for what’s expected to be his final year with Texas, with the NFL on the horizon.
Ahead of 2026, ESPN analyst EJ Manuel suggested Manning will do big things in his fourth year, if he uses the athleticism he showcased at times last season.
“Just have fun, man,” Manuel said, after Get Up host Jordan Rodgers claimed some have told him Manning will ‘set the world on fire’ in the coming months.
“When you watched the last six games of the (2025) season for Texas, you saw Arch Manning use his legs.
“That’s going to be a big key for him. He’s an athlete. Don’t just try to sit in the pocket like your uncles, man. Peyton and Eli, those guys will sit back there.
“They couldn’t run, but Arch can actually use his athleticism — 14 touchdown passes, two interceptions on the back half of the season.
“So, it’ll be key for him to get off to a fast start. But I think a lot of that starts with his confidence, which for some quarterbacks is taking off, getting hit, getting off the ground, getting back into the game.
“When I watch Arch Manning play, he plays his best ball when he’s using his athleticism. And then you’ve also got a great supporting cast around you.”
The future is bright for the Manning family, and perhaps the NFL too, with Arch and Marshall both making waves.
If all goes well, they could even face one-another in the pros one day.
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