What I Learned About the 2026 Quarterback Class at the Manning Passing Academy

Welcome back to The McShay Report! I’m fresh off my trip to the Manning Passing Academy in Thibodaux, Louisiana, where I got to work alongside more than 1,400 campers, several quarterbacks prospects in the 2026 (and probably 2027) draft class, and some current and former NFL players. This event is one of the purest exhibitions of football I’ve experienced, and a testament to the Manning family’s dedication to sharing, educating, and celebrating the game.

I could go on about the Field of Dreams–like atmosphere down in Louisiana, but for the purpose of this newsletter, we’re going to build upon the quarterback scouting work I’ve done this offseason and focus on my takeaways from seeing many prospects in person for the first time. If you’re a new subscriber, be sure to check out each of my Summer Scouting Series breakdowns, which include detailed reports and behind-the-scenes tape study notes.

Let’s dive in!

Arch Manning, Texas 

Arch is a great young man. Not good—great. He’s inquisitive and comfortable in his skin. I’d go as far as to say he’s one of the most naturally confident 21-year-olds I’ve met during my time in this business. I’m talking on the same level as a young Andrew Luck, Patrick Mahomes, and Russell Wilson. He just carries himself differently and nothing fazes him. And it makes sense—Arch has been coming to this camp since he was 4 years old! One other “background” note: his dad, Cooper, is hilarious. I think he could legitimately be a stand-up comedian. Arch has some of that looseness in him, too.

From a technical standpoint, his accuracy in drills over the weekend was good, but he’s still developing consistency. His combination of mobility and passing skills (especially on the move) is what makes him special and will carry him through big/tough moments at Texas and early in his NFL career. He’s not as refined as Garrett Nussmeier as a passer, but he’s a big, mobile, creative athlete with a strong arm and ascending passing skills. 

Arch will have a decision to make at the end of this season. Will he be ready to get out from under the microscope in Austin, where he’s recognized everywhere? Or will he do what his uncles did and stay an extra year in college? Time will tell!

Garrett Nussmeier, LSU

Nuss is an alpha! Outside of Arch (for obvious reasons), he and Klubnik were “the guys” at the MPA. He’s always having fun and is easy to like. He’s also competitive as hell in drills but doesn’t go overboard with it.

I saw him throw some really nice deep balls throughout the weekend, including a 40-yard shot into a basketball hoop.
 

A fun behind-the-scenes nugget there: Nuss waited for the other 45 or so QBs to make that pass first and none of them hit it. He went last—presumably after studying the throw and figuring out the best way to layer it like a golfer feeling out a green—and nailed it. Everything is a fun competition for him and he seeks out every little edge. 

He’s also really comfortable and in complete control when throwing with anticipation. He gets the ball out on time and hits his spots.

Cade Klubnik, Clemson

Klubnik was an absolute stud with campers and was a vocal leader among the QB prospects in attendance. One GM I spoke to made the comment that Klubnik would make a great offensive coordinator after his career ends, and I tend to agree. 

He threw the ball well, but wasn’t as pinpoint accurate as Nussmeier or Sawyer Robertson (more on him later). Still, his combination of size (6-foot-2), mobility, passing skills, and leadership/maturity make him special. Just about everyone I spoke to—college coaches, scouts, GMs—is expecting a massive year for Klubnik at Clemson in 2025. 

LaNorris Sellers, South Carolina

Sellers is a damn good kid—people I spoke with raved about his maturity and intelligence. He was a bit introverted at times over the weekend, but I wouldn’t read too much into that. It was his first year at camp and he was probably just feeling his way around. 

On the field at the MPA, Sellers confirmed what I’d seen on tape. He has all the talent and upside in the world, but he’s not quite there from a consistency and footwork standpoint. He needs more coaching and drilling to begin trusting his technique.

Sawyer Robertson, Baylor

Robertson was the most pleasant surprise of all the QBs at camp, and I left thinking, “I really need to study this guy’s tape!” He won the first round of the “Friday Night Lights” competition and is an accurate passer with a smooth, confident stroke. Robertson’s a pocket passer but far from a statue, based on the movement skills I saw at MPA. He trusts his footwork.

Robertson also comes from a family of athletes. His father, Stan, was a first-round pick by the Montreal Expos in the 1990 MLB draft, and his cousin Jarrett Stidham played QB at Baylor and Auburn and in March signed a two-year contract with the Broncos.

Sam Leavitt, Arizona State

According to a source that watched him at Michigan State, his progression from then to now is astounding. Coaches I’ve spoken to really like his tools and ability to adapt. He had good zip on his passes in drills at the MPA and he moved around well. He has a cool, calm, and collected vibe in everything he does, but when the ball is snapped, he is fundamentally sound and plays with URGENCY. I really like his confidence and poise. 

John Mateer, Oklahoma

When I first saw him, I could’ve sworn I was looking at a fullback. THICK lower body. On the field, he was slinging it. Different arm angles, mobile, and the ball HUMS off his hand. 

Just ripping it in every drill. Footwork was all over the place but it works well enough at this point for him. He was the talk of the camp. 

Demond Williams Jr., Washington

Williams grabbed my attention this past weekend. He’s on the shorter side (he’s listed at 5-foot-11 but I stood next to him and I think he’s closer to 5-foot-10) but his agility and movement skills really stood out during drills. I like his arm strength, and his accuracy should continue to improve. 

It’s going to be a big year for him under Jedd Fisch. This is a guy to watch closely over the next six months—he’s on the rise! 

Noah Fifita, Arizona

Fifita has a lot to overcome size-wise (stands about 5-foot-10 and 188 pounds) as a prospect, but damn did he jump out at MPA! Really good zip during the drills. Threw for almost 3,000 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 INTs last year on 61 percent passing. Expect a big leap this year. 

Miller Moss, Louisville

I always liked Moss at USC and saw mostly good stuff from him at camp. He carries himself like a veteran. The tools don’t jump off the page—he has an average arm, average size, and he isn’t overly mobile (not stuck in the sand, but not a run threat)—but he hit his spots all day throughout drills and showed great anticipation and layering ability. He’s in a good spot with the Brohms at Louisville and I can’t wait to see the improvement he makes with that coaching. (Not that he wasn’t coached well before, but look at how much Tyler Shough developed in one season with the Cardinals.)

Gio Lopez, UNC

Lopez transferred from South Alabama to become Bill Belichick’s first college QB. He’s short but has BIG arm talent and killed it in the QB competition over the weekend. The deep ball specifically is beautiful and it’s clear he has a lot of confidence in his arm.

Luke Altmyer, Illinois

Altmyer is better than I thought and had support from guys “in the know” at camp. He throws the pill well and has plus accuracy. He’s entering his fifth year (the first two were at Ole Miss, the last two at Illinois) and completed 61 percent of his passes for 22 touchdowns and six interceptions last season.

Bonus: Saints QB Tyler Shough 

You may remember when Steve Muench and I interviewed Shough at the combine in Indianapolis. I was blown away by his maturity then and he continued to impress me over the weekend at the MPA. Fun fact: he’s the only QB in 29 years of the event to come back and coach while in the NFL. Just an impressive, classy dude.

Also: Shough LOVES new Saints head coach Kellen Moore. “He just has so many answers,” Shough told me. They’ve spent a lot of time studying tape of three variations of Kellen’s offense with Dak Prescott, Jalen Hurts, and Justin Herbert, and meshing them together to fit what Shough does best. Shough also said that it’s been helpful that everyone in the QB room is learning the system with him so he doesn’t feel like he’s playing catch-up. 

One other fun note is that the Saints’ new offensive coordinator is none other than Garrett Nussmeier’s dad, Doug. Small world!