Trevor Lawrence knows a thing or two about being one of the top recruits in the country. The Jaguars' quarterback was the No. 1 overall recruit in the class of 2018 and ranked as the sixth-best college recruit of all time, per 247Sports.com.
Lawrence handled the pressure well. He helped lead Clemson to a national championship and became the No. 1 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft as a result of his efforts.
Now, Lawrence is hoping that he can help another top quarterback prospect do the same.
BENDER: Winners & losers of Arch Manning's decision to join Texans
Lawrence was asked about what advice he would give to Arch Manning after the No. 1 recruit in the 2023 college football recruiting class committed to Texas. Lawrence kept his response simple.
"I’m sure he has a lot of good people in his corner that can help him, but I’d say it’s really important to learn how to manage expectations.” Lawrence told TheSpun.com. "It’s important to block out all the noise. The only voices you should listen to are your internal expectations of yourself, your teammates, your coaches and family. You should try to block everything else out."
Manning will certainly have a lot of noise surrounding him. After all, he is the next in the line of great Mannings, following in the footsteps of his uncles Peyton and Eli and grandpa Archie; that name comes with big expectations that will put him under the brightest spotlight.
Add in the fact that he is attending Texas — a school that has perennially has high expectations but hasn't been able to make a national championship or College Football Playoff appearance since losing the title game to Alabama in 2010 — and things could go haywire if Manning struggles.
MORE: Scouting new Texas QB Archie Manning's strengths, weaknesses
Still, Lawrence doesn't foresee that happening. He thinks Manning will show up at Texas ready to learn. He may have to compete with Quinn Ewers for the starting job in 2023, but Lawrence believes that might be a good thing for Manning as he looks to build up his confidence.
There’s going to be a lot on his plate, but you have to show up ready to learn and grow. You’re not going to be perfect from Day 1, but he is really talented and has a lot of abilities. He needs to carry that confidence over while knowing you do have to start over. You have to do that at every level. It’s something I’m going through right now in the NFL. So you need to realize you’re there for a reason, but you have to earn that respect from your teammates. He seems like a quarterback who’ll do great.
So far, Manning has done great, as his decision to attend Texas has lured many other top recruits to join the organization. That gives the Longhorns a nice base of talent that should allow them a chance to climb back up in the Big 12 power rankings.
MORE: When is Arch Manning eligible for the NFL Draft?
Still, Manning's performance will be the biggest determining factor in whether Texas can reassert itself on the national stage. He can look to Lawrence as a shining example of how to live up to the high-end expectations he will h
