Arch Manning is MaxPreps High School Football Freshman Player of the Year

Video: Arch Manning 2019 highlights

Playing varsity football as a freshman is a major accomplishment. Starting as a ninth-grader is amazing.

But starting at quarterback? The most important position on the field. Stunning.

Add in the fact that his name — and bloodlines — are linked to football royalty and it's rather remarkable that Arch Manning, of Newman (New Orleans), pulled off what he did in 2019. The polished 6-foot-2, 175-pound signal-caller threw for 2,407 yards and 34 touchdowns, according to nola.com, leading the Greenies to a 9-2 record. He also rushed for six touchdowns.

All of it adds up to Manning being selected the MaxPreps National Freshman Player of the Year. The grandson of Archie Manning and nephew of Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch was impressive from the get-go, completing 24-of-34 passes for 224 yards and three touchdowns in his season debut, a 41-15 win over Lusher (New Orleans).

The following week, he threw for 211 yards and three more scores and in a 48-21 win over Riverside Academy (La.), he threw for 289 yards and five touchdowns.

Archie Manning said Arch is better at this stage than Peyton or Eli, who also attended Newman where each played junior varsity as freshmen. Arch Manning is second Louisiana native to win MaxPreps national Freshman of the Year, the other being Dylan Moses (Lawrence Lab) in 2013, and the sixth quarterback.

2010 — Jabrill Peppers, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

2011 — Austin Kafentzis, Jordan (Sandy, Utah)

2012 — Nick Bosa, St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

2013 — Dylan Moses, University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.)

2014 — Trevor Lawrence, Cartersville (Ga.)

2015 — JT Daniels, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

2016 — Jase McClellan, Aledo (Texas)

2017 — Sam Huard, Kennedy Catholic (Burien, Wash.)