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Ole Miss has seen a host of top quarterbacks grace the program over time, with a couple of them leaving an indelible mark on the team. However, the greatest signal-caller ever to play for the Rebels is Archie Manning, a folk hero and a legendary figure in the hearts of Oxford fans.
Archie Manning started his college football career at Ole Miss in 1968 and played three seasons in Oxford under legendary coach John Vaught. He threw for 4,753 yards and 40 touchdowns while also rushing for 821 yards and 25 touchdowns during his tenure with the Rebels.
In his three seasons of college football, Manning was regarded as one of the top quarterbacks in the nation. His brilliance in the backfield for the Rebels was notable and earned him legendary status in the program. After his college career, the school retired his No. 18 jersey.
Flourishing under the guidance of Johnny Vaught
Arch Manning's career at Ole Miss went so well due to the presence of Johnny Vaught in the program. The coach was able to utilize Manning to the best of ability, leading the Rebels to three consecutive seasons and establishing himself as a top quarterback in the landscape.
Under Vaught’s guidance, Manning was named SEC Player of the Year in 1969, showcasing his brilliance for the team. He was also a two-time First-team All-SEC and also earned a Third-team All-American honor. Manning finished as a Heisman Trophy finalist in 1969 and 1970.
“His quarterbacks were kind of my heroes,” Manning said of Vaught. “My biggest thrill was to be the Ole Miss quarterback. That’s what I wanted to be when I was a little boy.”
“I cherish my memories there. Playing LSU on a Saturday night in Baton Rouge, playing Georgia in between the hedges, those are big games. The guys I played with, I’ve kept up with so many of them.”
The love for his college career at Ole Miss
Playing at Ole Miss was the biggest highlight of Archie Manning’s career. He made it to the NFL as the second-overall pick in 1971 but his professional career wasn’t so successful after spending most of his productive years with the struggling New Orleans Saints.
This made him admire his time in Oxford. There, he was a folk hero who made history on and off the gridiron. He is widely considered as the program's greatest quarterback of all time, with only his son, Eli Manning, coming close.
“I enjoyed the journey,” Manning said of his time at Ole Miss. “I didn’t see the brightest side of pro football as far as playoffs and Supers Bowls and things like that. But I played the game, and I was around it for a long time. I made a ton of great friends and great memories.”
Archie Manning's name will remain etched in history as one of the greatest to play the game at the collegiate level. He was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 1989. His legacy in college football has been carried on by his sons, Peyton and Eli Manning, and currently his grandson, Arch Manning.
