Marshall Manning, Peyton Manning’s freshman son, just got his first varsity action for the Baylor School, and if you blinked, you probably missed it. He came into the Red Raiders’ 38-20 victory over Brentwood Academy on Thursday, August 20, for a grand total of two snaps. It was a game broadcast on ESPN2, and while those two plays might have shocked everyone watching, Baylor head coach Erik Kimrey confirms it was all part of the plan.
Two Snaps, One Big First Down
The Red Raiders were up 10-3 midway through the second quarter when senior starting quarterback, Ole Miss commit Keegan Croucher, took a few scrambles and then headed to the sideline. That’s when the 15-year-old Manning stepped in as the backup. On his very first snap, Marshall rolled out to the right and absolutely delivered, finding four-star 2028 athlete Anwtaun ‘Cornbread’ Adams for a 6-yard gain and a crucial first down. Talk about making an entrance! On the next play, he handed the ball off to Tennessee running back commit David Gabriel Georges, and then Croucher was back in, leading Baylor on their second touchdown drive of the night. It was quick, it was decisive, and it gave everyone a glimpse of the future.
“He’s Going to Be a Beast”
Coach Kimrey didn’t hold back after the win, saying, “We planned it. I want Marshall to play in every game this year, even if it’s just two plays like that. Hopefully it’ll be a lot more. We need him next year and he needs to be ready.” Kimrey, who took over at Baylor in 2022, is known for letting backups play in non-region games, usually for a whole drive. But for Marshall’s debut, he had specific plays mapped out. Croucher, the current starter, has no issues with the plan either, calling his freshman backup a “beast.” Croucher noted, “He’s only 15 years old and he works so hard. We have a really cool relationship where we’re hard on each other and we hold each other accountable in practice. … We have a really good bond together and I can’t wait to watch him win in the future.” That’s high praise from the guy whose job Manning is slated to take next year.
This is just the start for Marshall Manning, and Coach Kimrey is making sure he gets the reps. Keep your eyes peeled for more action as the season progresses, because it sounds like those two snaps were just the appetizer for what’s coming.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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