Eli Manning speaks highly of the job Lane Kiffin is doing at Ole Miss, discusses nephew Arch Manning’s recruitment
OXFORD, Miss. — Former Ole Miss and New York Giants quarterback Eli Manning joined Morten Andersen this week on the former NFL placekicker’s “Great Dane Nation” podcast, weighing in on the job Rebels’ head coach Lane Kiffin has done in Oxford.
Click here for the full podcast of Morten Andersen and Eli Manning.
Eli also offered a few thoughts on the recruitment of his talented five-star nephew, quarterback Arch Manning.
Andersen asked Eli about the incredible turnaround Kiffin has orchestrated at Ole Miss in just two season. Kiffin coached the Rebs to a 10-win regular season this year — the first in school history — and to a New Year’s Six berth in the Sugar Bowl.
“Yes, I think Lane has done a great job,” Manning said. “And obviously, the relationship with (former Ole Miss QB) Matt Corral and the development of him….these last 2 years, (he has) played outstanding. Runs the ball, throws the ball. And so, yeah, I look forward to how he continues to do that with the other quarterbacks,” Eli said.
Matt Corral is widely expected to be a first-round draft pick in the upcoming NFL Draft.
Eli also talked about the offense Kiffin is running as well as noted the defensive improvement.
“…You kind of think of Lane and throwing the football and (being) explosive, but the way they run the ball, they run the ball, really, really well. (Lane has) a great mind for just being creative. And that you know, get your guys out in the open, and then their defense made big strides this year. So it’s been fun to watch. And obviously it was exciting to see him in the Sugar Bowl and get down there for some games.”
Eli Manning on Lane Kiffin’s Rebels
Eli on Arch
Andersen asked Eli how badly he wants Arch to follow in his, grandad Archie’s, and father Cooper’s footsteps and play at Ole Miss. Eli responded as diplomatically as one would expect.
“You know, I’ll treat it just how my dad treated me when I was making my decision,” Eli explained.
“It’s all based on the kid and who he has a great relationship with, what coaches, what city and school where he feels he’s going to be comfortable and can grow, can be the player he wants to be, and be the student he wants to be.”
Eli Manning
Of course the Manning family will be behind Arch no matter where the Isidore Newman quarterback chooses to play.
“And so it’s all up to him and his feel and we will support him in whatever school he goes to for those those four years. If it’s not Ole Miss, hey, I’ll be a fan (of that school) for for a brief moment for those four years,” Manning added.
Anderson commented he has seen pictures of Arch wearing the hats of various schools, wondering if that means anything.
“Yeah, you know…he’s been to visits to Georgia and Alabama and Ole Miss, and Texas,” Eli answered. “I mean, it’s hard to go wrong if you pick one of those.”
(Photo by Kevin Langley/Icon Sportswire)
Video credit: Morten Andersen’s “Great Dane Nation” Podcast)
Evelyn Van Pelt
Evelyn has covered sports for over two decades, beginning her journalism career as a sports writer for a newspaper in Austin, Texas. She attended Texas A&M and majored in English. Evelyn's love for Ole Miss began when her daughter Katie attended the university on a volleyball scholarship. Evelyn created the Rebel Walk in 2013 and has served as publisher and managing editor since its inception.
