Arch Manning to play uncle Peyton's Volunteers: What Tennessee coaches said about Texas QB
· Yahoo Sports
Starting this weekend, two of the next four games on the Texas football schedule are against Tennessee and Ole Miss. The Longhorns will travel for Saturday's game against the "other UT" and will host the Rebels a month from today.
For most Longhorns, Tennessee and Ole Miss are just two SEC foes. But for Texas quarterback Arch Manning, those two opponents stand out.
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Manning's uncle, Peyton, once starred at Tennessee. His grandfather, Archie, and uncle, Eli, are Ole Miss legends. Archie, Peyton and Eli's jersey numbers are all retired at their respective schools.
Tennessee quarterback Peyton Manning poses for a portrait in the locker room circa 1995 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Doug Devoe/Sporting News via Getty Images)GOLDEN: Expect to learn something about Texas this week vs. Tennessee
Tennessee coaches talked about facing the younger Manning, who has 661 passing yards, seven touchdown and two interceptions this season. He's completing 61.5% of his passes, and Auburn transfer Cam Coleman has been one of his top targets (11 catches for 178 yards and four touchdowns). Both players could be first-round draft picks next season and present a good test for a Tennessee team that's played two midmajors and Georgia Tech this season.
"The kids have to understand, yes he has a talent and he's a quarterback, but he and his uncle, he and his dad, you know, he's Arch," Anthony Poindexter, the Vols' secondary coach said this week. "You watch the tape, the tape speaks for his play. He's a great player, so he'll be a challenge and I hope that our guys are up for it."
Josh Heupel praises Texas, Arch Manning's 'competitive makeup'
Poindexter, who was an All-American for Virginia in the late 1990s, said earlier this week Texas offense will present the first real challenge for his defense.
"Well first off, (Manning is) experienced, he has high-end talent, can run, can throw, a really talented player," the Vols' co-defensive coordinator said. "And obviously with the receivers they have, he's got real targets, tight ends, running backs. So, they'll be a big challenge."
Head coach Josh Heupel was a Heisman finalist as a quarterback for Oklahoma. Known as an offensive guru, he has familiarity with success at the QB position - and with the Longhorns.
"Smart," Huepel said of Manning," has really good command and control of what's going on. I think you can go back to the Ohio State game, his ability and his team's ability to be resilient, to keep playing the next play.
"To be in a situation like that (down 23-3) and be able to fight back, tells you about their competitive makeup."
Arch Manning looking to earn family bragging rights
As of now, Peyton owns the bragging rights in the Manning household since he went 2-0 against Ole Miss while playing at Tennessee from 1994-97. Before he became the No. 1 overall pick in the 1998 NFL Draft, Peyton set the SEC record for career wins and was a unanimous All-American for the Vols.
None of the elder Mannings faced Texas during their collegiate careers:
• Peyton Manning vs. Ole Miss: 2-0
• Archie Manning vs. Tennessee: 1-1
• Eli Manning vs. Tennessee: 0-0
When Texas visits Tennessee this weekend, the Longhorns will have one unlikely fan at Peyton's place. Peyton Manning told reporters this summer that he'd root for family over his alma mater in the UT-UT showdown.
"Look I love my university and alma mater and pull for them unconditionally, but nothing's more important to me than my family," Manning said. "When you have a nephew playing, I pull very hard for him every single Saturday. So that's pretty much a no-brainer that you're pulling for your nephew to play well."
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