Top-ranked quarterback Arch Manning chooses to play football at Texas

Arch Manning commits to Texas

Arch Manning has verbally committed to Texas, the top-ranked quarterback prospect announced on Thursday, ending one of the most highly watched and hotly contested recruitments in recent college football history.

"Committed to the University of Texas," the five-star passer said in the first post to his Twitter account.

The nephew of former NFL quarterbacks Peyton and Eli Manning, Arch Manning held offers from every major program in the Football Bowl Subdivision before narrowing his list to a handful of elite schools — including Clemson, LSU and more — and trimming his options down to three: Texas, Alabama and Georgia.

Long considered to be a two-team race between the Longhorns and Bulldogs, Texas was given a boost by Manning's strong relationship with second-year coach Steve Sarkisian.

Ranked as the top overall prospect regardless of position in the 2023 recruiting cycle, Manning has been on the national recruiting radar since early in his high school career at Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. His uncles and father, Cooper, starred at Isidore Newman; Cooper was a highly recruited wide receiver before a spinal injury ended his playing career. Arch's grandfather is Archie Manning, the legendary New Orleans Saints quarterback.

Tramel's ScissorTales: Are the 2022 OU Sooners the greatest softball team in NCAA history?

OU softball coaching staff recognized

The Oklahoma softball coaching staff was named the National Fastpitch Coaches Association Division I National Coaching Staff of the Year. The Sooner coaching staff, consisting of head coach Patty Gasso, associate head coach Jennifer Rocha, assistant coach J.T. Gasso and volunteer assistant Kristen Zaleski, guided the program to its sixth national title and second consecutive crown in 2022.

Also assisting in coaching roles were graduate assistants Fale Aviu, Sydney Romero and Shannon Saile.

It marks the fifth national coaching staff of the year honor for Gasso and her staffs, also receiving the award in 2000, 2013, 2016 and 2017.

The Sooners finished this season 59-3, winning the national title, Big 12 regular season crown and leading the country in the pitching circle (1.05 ERA) and at the plate in batting average (.371) and home runs (155).

OCU hires women's hoops coach

Kris Seigenthaler was named women's basketball coach at Oklahoma City University. The former Loyola (Louisiana) assistant takes over a program that has won nine NAIA championships but none since 2017. The Stars were national runner-up in 2019.

"We are extremely excited that Kris agreed to lead our women's basketball program," OCU athletic director Corey Bray said. "Her experience at multiple NAIA programs that achieved national rankings and NAIA Tournament appearances will provide a strong foundation as she directs our women's basketball program to continued national prominence."

Gatorade honors Noble's Allen

Noble senior Samantha Allen's soccer season is one she won't soon forget.

The Oklahoma State signee capped her spectacular prep career with a 56-goal, 15-assist season, leading the Bears into the Class 5A quarterfinals. She earned The Oklahoman's girls soccer Player of the Year honors, and Thursday, she earned even more recognition as the state's Gatorade girls soccer Player of the Year.

Allen, who signed with Oklahoma State, scored nearly 200 goals during her prep career. Her 56 goals this season are believed to be an state record.

She is the first Gatorade girls soccer Player of the Year winner from Noble. She also earned All-State and All-District honors.

Allen is a finalist for the Gatorade National Player of the Year, which will be announced later this month.

Extra points

OKC DODGERS: Four pitchers combined to stop the Oklahoma City Dodgers' high-scoring offense Wednesday night, and Round Rock notched a 1-0 Pacific Coast League baseball win at Chickasaw Bricktown Ballpark. OKC (42-26), which has one of the top run-scoring clubs in all of minor league baseball, was limited to three hits. Round Rock (36-32) scored its only run in the sixth after an error, two stolen bases and a sacrifice fly.

NFL: Hugh McElhenny, the elusive Hall of Fame halfback who starred in the San Francisco 49ers’ “Million Dollar Backfield” in the mid-1950s, has died. He was 93. The Pro Football Hall of Fame said Thursday that McEhlenny died of natural causes at his home in Nevada.

NBA: Police say nearly $100,000 in cash was taken in a weekend burglary at the Atlanta home of former NBA player Vince Carter. Police said in an incident report released Wednesday that two guns and more than $16,000 was recovered outside the home after Sunday's burglary. Carter told police the recovered money was a small portion of $100,000 in cash he kept in a closet.

WNBA: Brittney Griner will have a place at the WNBA All-Star Game. League commissioner Cathy Engelbert announced the Phoenix Mercury center will be an honorary starter. Griner has been detained in Russia since Feb. 17 after authorities at an airport outside of Moscow said she had vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her bag.

Staff and wire reports

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Quarterback Arch Manning will play college football at Texas