Who is Andrew Luck? - 13 WTHR Indianapolis

Andrew Luck is the most talked-about man in Indianapolis this week. Everywhere we looked, we found nothing but good things about the Colts' No. 1 draft pick.

We tracked down a close family friend in Texas who has followed Luck most of his life and sees remarkable similarities to Peyton Manning.

It seems as if every fan has the same question.

"Can he fill Peyton Manning's shoes?"

"Andrew was a leader. He is a gifted leader," said Giff Nielsen.

That is high praise coming from Nielsen, an All-American college quarterback whose NFL teammates were Archie Manning and Oliver Luck.

As a Houston sports anchor, Nielsen closely followed the younger Luck's career.

"I would say Andrew Luck has an outstanding opportunity to be as good as Peyton Manning and that says a lot," said Nielsen.

Andrew Luck was in a football helmet as a toddler. As a youngster living in Europe he excelled soccer.

"When I moved back to the US if just felt right to play football," he said.

Luck was a high school senior when Sports Stars of Tomorrow tracked his playing days from elementary school to middle school to high school. His accomplishments stood a head above everyone else's.

"Number one in his class, outstanding in the community. He's the first one here. He is the last one to leave," said Eliot Allen Stratford head coach.

Luck left Texas for Stanford University. He excelled as a player and a person. He's been called incredibly talented, dedicated, unpretentious and well grounded. Luck chose graduation and a degree in architecture over leaving school early for the NFL.

"I've always though of Andrew as one who really cared about making a difference not only for himself, but more importantly, other people," said Nielsen.

The unanswered question is how Andrew Luck will handle the expectations, celebrity, and notoriety of the NFL.

Oliver Luck and Archie Manning go way back. Maybe some of fatherly advice that helped Peyton will find its way to Andrew's ears too.