Arch Manning can't beat Tackett Curtis, so why not try to recruit the USC commit for Texas football?

MANY – Tackett Curtis rarely left the field Friday night as his LSWA Class 2A top-ranked Many Tigers beat No. 2 Isidore Newman 25-17 in front of a standing room-only crowd in excess of 5,000.

Curtis was all smiles, posing for photos with classmates and joking about texting with Newman quarterback Arch Manning on joining him as a Texas commitment. Curtis is committed to USC.

“We texted a little bit before the game and I told him good luck,” Curtis said. “We exchanged a few words during the game. Just funny stuff. He was awesome. He said Texas is always free if I want to come to Texas.”

Curtis compiled nine tackles, including two for a loss, while adding 85 rushing yards.

Recruited as a linebacker, Curtis also plays quarterback for the Tigers (4-0) and returns punts. He actually plays as a linebacker/safety hybrid in the Tigers' defense, rarely coming to the line from the same place.

“One thing about Jess (Curtis) is he throws the kitchen sink at you,” Newman coach Nelson Stewart said. “That’s why Tackett is unaccounted for a lot. Tackett is awesome. I really believe that. He’s an old-school defender. I grabbed him and hugged him. I joked wondering if Brian Bosworth was his dad.

“But he plays clean. He plays downhill and he plays violent. I haven’t seen a defender that can make up that much ground and be a box player. We left here with even more respect for him. He’s a heckuva high school football player.”

The Many defense held Manning and his offense to a pair of short touchdown passes, although the Greenies (3-1) were never out of the game.

“We need this. We got better tonight,” Stewart said. “We are contrasting styles, but we have respect for each other. In the end, I’ll say this. We’re split private/public, but boy, it would be nice to see these kids – they’re certainly on the select level.”

Jimmy Watson covers Shreveport-Bossier area sports. Email him at jwatson@shreveporttimes.com and follow him on Twitter @JimmyWatson6.

This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Arch Manning recruits USC commit Tackett Curtis for Texas football