The Manning Passing Academy held its annual camp in Thibodaux, Louisiana last week, hosted by Archie Manning, Cooper Manning, Peyton Manning and Eli Manning
The quiet town of Thibodaux, Louisiana once again became the epicenter of the football universe last week as the Manning Passing Academy (MPA) returned for its annual four-day camp—hosted by none other than Archie, Cooper, Peyton, and Eli Manning, and featuring a dazzling array of college football’s brightest quarterback stars.
Held on the campus of Nicholls State University, the 2025 edition of the MPA brought together over 1,200 high school athletes, hundreds of coaches, and a star-studded cast of college counselors—including the most talked-about name in the sport: Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning.
“This camp means a lot to our family,” Archie Manning told reporters. “It’s not just about throwing footballs. It’s about teaching these young men how to lead, how to prepare, and how to represent themselves on and off the field.
For more than 25 years, the Manning Passing Academy has served as the nation’s premier football skills camp for quarterbacks, wide receivers, tight ends, and running backs. While high school athletes attend the camp to learn from the best, the real spotlight often lands on the college quarterbacks who serve as counselors and drill leaders—and who often use the event to preview their coming breakout seasons.
This year’s counselor roster read like a preseason Heisman watch list, including:
- Arch Manning – Texas
- Carson Beck – Georgia
- Riley Leonard – Notre Dame
- Jalen Milroe – Alabama
- Shedeur Sanders – Colorado
- Will Howard – Ohio State
- Jaxson Dart – Ole Miss
Each quarterback took the field in front of scouts, reporters, and hundreds of wide-eyed campers, delivering sharp spirals in 7-on-7 drills, leading footwork sessions, and participating in interviews and film studies.
“The energy here is different,” said Beck. “You’re standing next to Peyton Manning one minute, then you’re throwing passes to a 16-year-old who looks like he’s the next five-star.”
Unsurprisingly, the player who drew the most attention throughout the week was Arch Manning, the rising sophomore from Texas—and the latest heir to the Manning quarterback lineage.
This marked Arch’s second year as a college counselor, but his first as the presumptive starter at Texas. Manning wowed spectators with effortless deep balls, quick reads during demo sessions, and his calm, quiet leadership style—eerily reminiscent of his uncles.
“He’s matured so much in just one year,” said Peyton Manning. “You can see the confidence now. He knows this is his team at Texas.”
Arch was especially popular during the evening chalk talk sessions, where he broke down film from the Rose Bowl and walked campers through his pre-snap process. One camper described his film breakdown as “like listening to a coach in cleats.”
The Manning Passing Academy remains a family-run affair, with each member playing a key role:
- Archie Manning: Camp patriarch, welcoming every camper personally and delivering daily wisdom.
- Peyton Manning: Runs QB mechanics sessions and film rooms with a mix of precision and dry humor.
- Eli Manning: Focuses on footwork, ball placement, and keeping the atmosphere light.
- Cooper Manning: Emcee and comic relief, hosting events like “Manning Madness,” a nighttime camp talent show and Q&A.
“It’s not just about football,” Cooper joked. “It’s about who can survive south Louisiana heat and 250 passes a day without collapsing.”
Beyond the big-name counselors, several lesser-known quarterbacks made serious impressions, with scouts noting standout performances by:
- Jayden Capel – Arizona State
- Tyler Shough – TCU
- Jaden Rashada – Georgia Tech
- Zion Kearney – High School 2026 QB out of Texas
Kearney, a 6’4” rising junior from Cedar Hill, reportedly received verbal offers from multiple SEC programs after a stunning 7-on-7 performance and deep-ball exhibition on Day 3.
“Every year, we find a kid who blows us away,” said Archie Manning. “That’s the fun part. This isn’t just a camp—it’s a launching pad.”
While the camp is known for its elite football instruction, the Mannings continue to emphasize intangibles: leadership, character, accountability, and preparation.
Each day opened with a session on topics like:
- How to lead a locker room
- Navigating NIL and media pressure
- Mental health and resilience
- Preparing for adversity and failure
Speakers included former NFL players, sports psychologists, and current NCAA compliance reps.
“The biggest lesson I learned wasn’t about throwing,” said one high school QB. “It was about how to handle being ‘the guy’ when things go wrong.”
The camp’s biggest spectator event is the annual Manning Skills Challenge, where college QBs face off in a timed competition of accuracy, arm strength, and mobility drills. This year’s winner?
Jaxson Dart of Ole Miss, who edged out Arch Manning and Shedeur Sanders with a flawless final round.
“I might’ve won today,” Dart said, “but Arch is coming for all of us this fall.”
As the 2025 MPA wrapped, one thing was clear—the Manning Passing Academy is more than just a camp. It’s become a rite of passage, a proving ground, and a celebration of the quarterback craft. For Arch Manning, it’s also a living legacy—a place where his family’s story began, and where his own is taking shape.
“This is where I learned the game,” Arch said. “And now I get to help teach it. That’s special.”
As college football barrels toward a new season, with realignment, NIL deals, and playoff expansion reshaping the sport, there remains something timeless about Thibodaux in July: a family, a field, and the quarterbacks of the future chasing greatness under the blazing Louisiana sun.
Hook ’Em.
And long live the quarterback factory that the Mannings built.
