More than 1,400 high school football quarterbacks and receivers convened on the campus of Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana, June 26-29, for the 29th edition of The Manning Passing Academy. The academy, which has attracted many of the top players in college football history during the past three decades, has one simple goal: to make the game more enjoyable for high school players.
 
"What keeps us going after all these years is the chance to give back to the game that's given so much to our family," said Archie Manning, who serves as the camp's executive director and as chairman of the National Football Foundation. "We're not trying to create superstars — we're trying to help young players love the game more, lead better, and grow as teammates. That's the heart of the Manning Passing Academy."
 
Every year, the camp enlists the top college players in the nation who serve as counselors, helping mentor the young attendees, and this year was no exception with a list of stars who included Drew Allar (Penn State), Luke Altmyer (Illinois), Rocco Becht (Iowa State), Taylen Green (Arkansas), Mark Gronowski (Iowa), Walker Howard (Louisiana), Kevin Jennings (SMU), Avery Johnson (Kansas State), Cade Klubnik (Clemson), Sam Leavitt (Arizona State), Gio Lopez (North Carolina), Arch Manning (Texas), John Mateer (Oklahoma), Fernando Mendoza (Indiana), Darian Mensah (Duke), Behren Morton (Texas Tech), Miller Moss (Louisville), Chandler Morris (Virginia), Austin Novosad (Oregon), Garrett Nussmeier (LSU), Sawyer Robertson (Baylor), Lanorris Sellers (South Carolina), Blake Shapen (Mississippi State), Austin Simmons (Ole Miss), Ty Simpson (Alabama), Gunner Stockton (Georgia), Demond Williams Jr. (Washington).
 
Williams won the Quarterback Challenge, which included the "Riddell Air-It-Out" throwing exhibition. For his exploits he took home an autographed helmet with the Mannings' signatures. The stars also took home valuable insights and memories.
  
The camp started in 1996 at Tulane University in New Orleans with 185 participants, and this year marked the 21st edition at Nicholls State, having reached more than 30,000 players since its inception. At that time, Peyton, the 1997 NFF William V. Campbell Trophy® winner, was a junior at Tennessee. Eli, a 2003 NFF National Scholar-Athlete from Ole Miss, was a sophomore at Isidore Newman High School, and Manning's oldest son Cooper had just graduated from Ole Miss. Buddy Teevens, the late head coach at Dartmouth and the 2024 recipient of the NFF Distinguished American Award, was head coach at Tulane, and Jeff Hawkins, the current senior associate athletics director at Oregon, was a recruiting coordinator for Teevens. Manning, his sons, and Hawkins have continued to be the driving force behind the camp's success since its inception.
 
"The Mannings have created more than a camp — they've built a legacy," said NFF President & CEO Steve Hatchell. "For nearly three decades, they've combined football fundamentals with life lessons, helping thousands of young men grow both on and off the field."