Alabama Attacked Steve Sarkisian’s Struggle With Alcoholism To Steer Arch Manning Away From Texas

Arch Manning is the most famous recruit in college football history. Not only did the former five-star quarterback look every bit the part in terms of size and stature, the ball zipped out of his right hand.

Of course, his last name certainly helped to boost his status as the nation’s top prospect.

Manning’s recruitment was such a big deal that it quite literally changed the course of college football history. Nick Saban might still be coaching if the nephew of Eli and Peyton had picked Alabama.

Arch Manning indirectly led Nick Saban to retire.

Most major recruiting services ranked Manning as the No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2023. Other signal-callers in his same year included Nico Iamaleava, Dante Moore, Jackson Arnold, Malachi Nelson, Jaden Rashada, Aiden Chiles and Austin Mack.

He is the only player on that list who has not transferred.

Arch Manning committed to Texas over Alabama, Georgia, Ole Miss, Clemson, LSU and Tulane, among others. The Crimson Tide, Bulldogs and Longhorns ultimately rounded out his final three.

Nick Saban wanted the son of Cooper to be his quarterback of the future and missed. The greatest coach of all-time officially retired from the sport less than one full year later.

If the top-ranked recruit had instead committed to Alabama, there is no way Saban was going to hang it up. He would have a true junior (or redshirt sophomore) quarterback with the last name Manning this season.

And yet, here we are!

Alabama attacked Steve Sarkisian’s sobriety.

Seth Wickersham of ESPN The Magazine is set to release a new book about quarterbacks in the coming weeks. It features a lengthy excerpt about the “ruthless recruitment of Arch Manning.”

The excerpt details one specific phone call between Pete Golding and the No. 1 overall recruit in the Class of 2023. The former Alabama defensive coordinator directly recruited against Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian’s sobriety.