Mansell is a competitive playmaker
What kind of quarterback are the Iowa Hawkeyes getting in Peyton Mansell? We caught up with Belton (TX) High School coach Bob Shipley, who has known Iowa offensive coordinator Greg Davis for years, to talk about Mansell’s game, how he projects to college, and much more. See what he had to say right here.
Q: What are Peyton's strengths as a QB right now?
SHIPLEY: He's a tremendous competitor first and foremost. He goes into great detail when preparing for an opponent. He can make plays with his feet and extend plays. He's not robotic with his thinking during a play. He has that uncoachable ability to make a play when things around him begin to deteriorate.
Q: Why do you think more Power 5 schools haven't offered?
SHIPLEY: I've always said he's the best QB you've never heard of. We had a returning starter his sophomore year, so I played him on JV to gain experience but he was beside me on the sidelines on Friday nights and in the playoffs. We had a tremendous running game this past season so he didn't have eye-popping stats. I think almost every school that came through this past spring and saw him practice in person left practice afterwards telling me they were going to offer him. Recruiting in Texas is a lot of times based on your sophomore year. There are a lot of Big 5 schools that loved him, but they had already offered their QB's.
Q: You've known Greg Davis for quite some time. Can you kind of tell us about how Iowa got involved, their recruiting of him and what they liked?
SHIPLEY: Coach Davis and I have known each other for a long time. He coached my oldest son, Jordan, and recruited my other son, Jaxon. He's the best in the business in my mind, so I'm thankful Peyton will be able to develop under him. We visited with him on the phone about him and Coach Davis liked what he saw on film. He and Coach Bobby Kennedy made the trip down to Texas and watched him practice. I've known Colt McCoy since he was a little boy. I see a lot of the same intangibles in Peyton. Coach Davis saw something in Colt that most big-time coaches didn't see. I think after being a Heisman finalist two years in a row, many coaches were amazed at his development. Like Colt, Peyton has a strong arm but also has a quick release. He's smart and is a gym rat of a QB.
Q: How do you see Peyton projecting to college? Where do you see him 2-3 years from now?
SHIPLEY: I don't know what the QB situation is at Iowa, but I know Peyton will not be outworked. He'll drive Coach Davis nuts wanting to watch film and learn the offense inside and out. I've always believed that a guy like that will always rise to the top.
In committing to Iowa, Mansell chose the Hawkeyes over scholarship offers from San Diego State, Southern Miss, New Mexico, Rice, Florida Atlantic, New Mexico State, North Texas, Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Cornell, Dartmouth, Coastal Carolina, and North Dakota State, among others.
As a junior, Mansell completed 140 of 241 pass attempts (58.1%) for 1,712 yards and 20 touchdowns with only three interceptions. A dual-threat quarterback in high school, he also finished with 113 carries for 789 yards rushing and 10 scores on the ground as well.
See highlights from Mansell’s junior year at Belton High School in the video below.