Former ESPN analyst and college football legend David Pollack has a clear idea about Arch Manning and how he perceives the Texas star. Now, Pollack has made a claim that is sure to ruffle feathers in Tuscaloosa: Manning has already shown flashes of a ceiling that puts him above Alabama’s Ty Simpson.
David Pollack’s Stunning Claim About Arch Manning and Ty Simpson
In a recent “See Ball, Get Ball” episode, Pollack argued that Manning would be above Simpson in the 2026 NFL Draft. He said, “I don’t think people would like to hear this, but I think Arch (Manning) would have been above Ty Simpson.”
Pollack’s assessment began by addressing the Manning fatigue that has permeated national sports media. When you are the nephew of Peyton and Eli, the expectations are not just high: they are astronomical.
“I understand the Arch Manning debate,” Pollack noted. “Everybody had him up on a pedestal, right? And naturally, what happens is we knock him down. That’s how it works.”
Pollack also addressed Manning’s initial struggles in the season and blamed it on Texas’ offensive line. Yet, the Texas QB had a few plays every game that blew everyone up. Meanwhile, Simpson entered the professional ranks despite facing criticism for a dip in his passing efficiency and his late-season struggles down the stretch at Alabama, so Pollack argues that Manning’s raw athleticism and pocket presence are far along for his age.
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“Arch Manning makes at least two or three plays every single game where he steps up in the pocket, shrugs someone off, and throws the ball down the field,” Pollack explained. “He makes some of these crazy, crazy plays that make you shake your head.”
“Ty Simpson did this towards the end of the season; Arch Manning did this. So, it kind of would have been like ‘pick your poison.’ But now when you’ve got Arch Manning coming back, you’ve got guys coming in at wide receiver to fortify that and make it stronger,” Pollack concluded.
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To Simpson fans, this feels like an oversight of Simpson’s proven production in a more physical conference. But Pollack suggests that the infrastructure being built around Manning in Austin is about to make the talent gap undeniable.
As we look toward the 2026 season, eyes will be on the debate over Manning going as the No. 1 pick in the 2027 NFL Draft. While Simpson went to the Rams as the 13th overall pick, Pollack continues to argue that Manning would have ended up higher than him if he had declared.
