Archie Manning was in Birmingham on Monday night for a ceremony presenting the first Nick Saban Legacy Award, but there was still plenty of interest in his grandson, Arch.

Arch Manning is a 5-star QB in the 2023 recruiting class and is drawing interest from several top programs as the 2023 cycle continues.

Archie said he’s been impressed with the maturity he’s seen from Arch throughout the process (via AL.com):

“I told Arch the other day I was proud of him because I saw a list of top-10 players,” Archie Manning said. “It gave their weight, school, blah, blah, blah and their Twitter account. He was the only one who didn’t have a Twitter account so I said I’m proud of him for that. It will all work out. He’s handling it well. He’s mature enough to make his own decision and will make a good decision and it will all work out.”

Archie said Arch’s recruitment started earlier than Peyton, Eli and Cooper’s, but he trusts his grandson will make a good choice in the end:

“When Peyton, Eli and Cooper went through it, it really didn’t turn up until the spring before their senior year,” Archie Manning said. “They might have been getting letters, but with Arch, it started in the seventh grade. I don’t think it’s so much that he was that great as a seventh grader, it was just that’s when it was starting. I’m not that fond of that but that’s just the way it is.

“I guess it still comes down to the end of just trying to pick a place … I know Arch, he wants to go where he’s going to be happy as a student, too. I always told my kids that. Pick a place where if football doesn’t work out, where are you going to be happy going to school? I think every young person deserves to have a good college experience.”

A lot of fans are curious as to where Arch will end up. He’ll be one of the most sought-after recruits in recent history.