Son of former NFL QB is drawing comparisons to Texas QB Arch Manning

The son of a former NFL quarterback who went to eight Pro Bowls is drawing comparisons to Texas Longhorns redshirt freshman quarterback Arch Manning.

Manning, a five-star recruit in the 2023 class, is one of the most hyped young players to come along in decades. Despite the fact that he hasn't started a game yet at Texas, he's one of the most popular college athletes in the nation.

And it seems CBS Sports thinks similar hype could be on the way for Gunner Rivers, the son of former NFL quarterback Philip Rivers.

Gunner Rivers is a 2027 quarterback who is ranked as the No. 64 overall player in the nation (it's still early so that ranking could change drastically, for better or worse).

According to CBS Sports, Gunner passed for 3,077 yards, 29 touchdowns, and just four interceptions last season at Alabama's Fairhope St. Michael Catholic.

The younger Rivers isn't getting compared to Manning just because he has a famous last name and is a coveted recruit. Apparently, both players handle themselves similarly.

Manning was incredibly quiet during his recruitment, despite the fact that it was the most high profile recruitment in the nation. There weren't a bunch of interviews or posts on social media (which led to rampant speculation).

Gunner Rivers and his family appear operate in the same way (though CBS Sports was able to unearth that he has an offer from NC State, his father's alma mater).

From CBS Sports : Last year, Gunner completed 229 of 362 passes (63.3 percent) for 3,077 yards with 29 touchdowns to go against just four interceptions while playing for his father at Alabama's Fairhope St. Michael Catholic. Those numbers are extremely promising for a freshman and would usually result in a flurry of scholarship offers. The issue? Gunner -- like Arch -- isn't active on X and he has no posts on his Instagram account, meaning it's hard to get much information on his recruitment. After working the phones and talking with some college contacts, 247Sports has been able to confirm that NC State, which is of course Philip's alma mater, has offered the younger Rivers. Outside of that, it's unclear where he's visited and who all is interested in the budding NFL legacy. And it might stay that way as one source noted that the family is "very private."

It sounds like Gunner is going to be one of the most sought-after recruits in the 2027 class, which means every program in the nation will be chasing him.

NC State probably has the early edge, but it seems likely that Gunner will take the Arch route and pave his own way.

Related: Arch Manning details relationship with Peyton and Eli; reveals how often he talks with his famous uncles