Intimate Details Revealed: Arch Manning’s High School Coach Gives Intriguing Perspective on UGA Recruitment

Intimate Details Revealed: Arch Manning’s High School Coach Gives Intriguing Perspective on UGA Recruitment

 

The recruitment of Arch Manning, the consensus No. 1 quarterback in the 2023 recruiting class, was one of the most high-stakes and secretive processes in college football history. While he ultimately chose the Texas Longhorns, the Georgia Bulldogs and head coach Kirby Smart were widely considered to be the runner-up.

Now, with Manning preparing to face the Bulldogs in a massive SEC matchup, his former high school coach, Nelson Stewart, has provided an intriguing, retrospective perspective on just how close the star quarterback came to wearing the red and black of the Bulldogs.

 

💯 Georgia Was “100 Percent” an Option

 

Nelson Stewart, who coached Manning at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans (and was a teammate of Arch’s father, Cooper, and uncle, Peyton), managed the intense spotlight of the recruitment process. He recently told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the thought of Arch Manning playing for Georgia was not just a pipe dream for the Bulldogs faithful—it was a very real possibility.

“Oh, yeah,” Nelson Stewart told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “One hundred percent. I think they were knee deep in it, for sure.”

This statement confirms that the Bulldogs were not merely a courtesy visit in the Manning sweepstakes; they were a legitimate, top-tier contender until the very end of the process, which ultimately saw Manning commit to Texas in June 2022.

 

🎯 The “Intentional” Brilliance of Kirby Smart and the UGA Pitch

 

Stewart elaborated on the factors that made Georgia so appealing to the Manning family, citing the professionalism, stability, and authenticity of the program.

 

1. Authenticity of Kirby Smart

 

Stewart singled out the genuine nature of Kirby Smart’s approach, noting that the coach’s personality was a major selling point.

• “Kirby, he’s kind of second to none,” Stewart said. “He’s very authentic.”
• In the high-pressure world of five-star recruiting, where coaches often deliver polished, repetitive “sales pitches,” Smart’s sincerity resonated. Arch Manning himself had multiple visits to Athens and, according to Stewart, “loved Smart.”

 

2. The Strength of the Program’s Timing and Coaching

 

Georgia’s timing in the recruitment process, combined with its personnel, created a compelling case for the young quarterback:

• Elite Offensive Coaching: Stewart praised the efforts of then-offensive coordinator Todd Monken and then-analyst Buster Faulkner, noting that “they recruited him very hard. They did a great job.” Monken’s brilliant offensive schemes, which had just led Georgia to a national title, were a major draw.
• Ready-Made Opportunity: With Stetson Bennett preparing for his final season in 2022, Manning had a direct and realistic path to competing for the starting job as early as his first season on campus.
• The Best Competition: Stewart highlighted the opportunity to practice daily against a defense stocked with future NFL draft picks, stating that practicing against a defense of Georgia’s caliber was an invaluable asset for a developing quarterback.

Stewart emphasized that everything Georgia did during the process was “intentional,” showcasing a meticulously planned effort that went beyond simple platitudes.

 

🤝 A Relationship-Driven Decision

 

Both Kirby Smart and Arch Manning have consistently downplayed the narrative of a dramatic “pitch” or “sales job.” Both sides have stressed that the recruitment ultimately boiled down to a personal connection.

• Smart on the Relationship: Smart has stated publicly that his relationship with the Manning family—including grandfather Archie, father Cooper, and uncles Peyton and Eli—was long-standing and positive. He even said of the final decision, “He was very honest, and had his thoughts about both programs. He liked both programs. He had to pick one. I mean, there’s no, like, sales pitch in terms of that.”
• Manning on the Interest: Ahead of the matchup with Georgia, Manning himself confirmed the seriousness of his consideration for the Bulldogs, stating he was “considering them till the end.”

Ultimately, the draw of playing for Steve Sarkisian, who has a strong history of developing NFL quarterbacks, combined with the allure of Austin, Texas, won out.

However, the retrospective comments from Nelson Stewart cement the fact that the Georgia Bulldogs were not a distant second. They were “knee deep” in the battle for one of college football’s most coveted recruits, and only narrowly missed out on reshaping the landscape of the SEC for the next generation.