- Selected in the fifth round (No. 163 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft (23rd linebacker taken), as General Manager Ted Thompson traded up for the third time on draft weekend to take a defensive player.
- The last of six consecutive defenders chosen by the Packers to open the draft in 2012, the club surrendered a sixth-rounder and two seventh-round choices to move up to take him.
- A two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at North Carolina State who elected to forego his final season at the collegiate level, he appeared in 36 games with 26 starts during his career, finishing with 207 tackles (128 solo), including 26 for loss, 10½ sacks, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
- Returned from an early-season injury to help the Wolfpack post a 6-2 record over their final eight games in 2011, joining fellow 2012 draft choices Luke Kuechly (Carolina), Zach Brown (Tennessee), and Sean Spence (Pittsburgh) as players to earn ACC Linebacker of the Week honors multiple times during the regular season.
- Had a memorable senior season in high school, earning his conference’s defensive player of the year award after recording an impressive 219 tackles, five sacks, three INTs, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for Laurinburg (N.C.) High in 2007.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- A productive and consistent defender who appeared in 36 games over the course of three seasons at N.C. State, starting 26 and collecting 207 tackles (128 solo), 26 of them for loss, 10½ sacks, five interceptions, eight passes defensed, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
- Earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior in 2011 after setting career highs in every statistical category, including tackles (83), solo tackles (51), tackles for loss (13), sacks (5½), interceptions (three) and fumble recoveries (three).
- Earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors twice in the final four weeks of the 2011 regular season, one of four players to garner the award more than once during the season, and each of the other three (Luke Kuechly, Zach Brown, Sean Spence) were taken in the first three rounds of the draft.
- Became a full-time starter in 2010, opening all 13 games and finishing fourth on the squad with 76 tackles (46 solo), while also tying for second with five sacks and adding an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
- Saw his first collegiate action as a redshirt freshman in 2009, appearing in all 12 games with two starts and posting 48 tackles (31 solo, two for loss), four passes defensed and the first interception and forced fumble of his career.
- Majored in African studies and is one semester short of graduation.
2011: Earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors from the league’s media following his junior season…Started all 11 games in which he appeared, missing two games with a knee injury in the season’s first half, but returning for the final eight and finishing fourth on the team with a career-high 83 tackles (51 solo)…Solo-tackle total was also a career high, as were his 13 tackles for loss, 5½ sacks (tied for the team lead), three interceptions and three fumble recoveries…Also forced two fumbles, tying a career high…Watched as the team dropped both of the games in which he was sidelined, yielding 40-plus points in each contest…Returned to help the team go 6-2 over its final eight games, averaging nine tackles per game and posting 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, two INTs, two forced fumbles and three recoveries during that span…One of the veteran leaders on a defensive unit that ranked No. 4 in the conference in both total defense (354.9 ypg.) and rushing defense (131.2 ypg.) at season’s end…Vs. South Alabama (Sept. 17): Appeared on 16 plays, but suffered a knee injury that would require surgery and force him to miss the next two contests…Vs. Central Michigan (Oct. 8): Returned to action and made 10 tackles (four solo, one for loss), including his first full sack of the season…Vs. North Carolina (Nov. 5): Had one of his better performances in a 13-0 shutout win over the in-state rival Tar Heels, finishing with a team-leading 11 tackles (seven solo, one for loss) and a sack. Outing earned him ACC Linebacker of the Week honors for the first time in his career and the game marked the Wolfpack’s first shutout against North Carolina since Sept. 19, 1970…Vs. Clemson (Nov. 19): Made a significant impact in the team’s 37-13 upset win over the No. 7-ranked Tigers, tallying nine tackles (seven solo), including three for loss, and two critical fumble recoveries, a single-game career high. Recovered each loose ball inside the Clemson 20-yard line and both possessions led to Wolfpack scores…Vs. Maryland (Nov. 26): Earned ACC Linebacker of the Week for the second time in four games after recording seven tackles (five solo, two for loss), a sack and both a forced and recovered fumble. Helped key a comeback that saw the Wolfpack overcome a 41-14 third-quarter deficit en route to a 56-41 victory, marking the largest second-half comeback in ACC history.
2010: Started all 13 of the team’s games, a career high, and finished with 76 tackles (46 solo), including 11 for loss, five sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a redshirt sophomore...Tackle total ranked fourth on the team and the sack number was good for second…The Wolfpack finished the season 9-3 with a victory over No. 22-ranked West Virginia in the Champs Sports Bowl, just the school’s second nine-win season since 1994…A steady contributor to a defensive unit that finished the season ranked No. 2 in the ACC in rushing defense at 114.3 yards per game…Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 16): Tallied four tackles (three solo) and enjoyed the first multi-sack outing of his career, twice dropping Bearcats QB Zach Collaros in a 30-19 win that gave N.C. State its first 3-0 start since 2002…At Clemson (Nov. 6): Posted nine tackles (six solo, one for loss), and added his first and only INT of the season, also forcing a fumble during the game…At North Carolina (Nov. 20): Finished with eight tackles (four solo), including a season-high three for loss and his fifth sack of the season. North Carolina had assumed possession at their own 5-yard line with 36 seconds remaining in the game, trailing by two, but Manning sacked QB T.J. Yates in the end zone for a safety, essentially ending the game.
2009: Saw his first action as a redshirt freshman, appearing in all 12 games with two starts and posting 48 tackles (31 solo), including two for loss, an interception, four passes defensed and a forced fumble...Vs. South Carolina (Sept. 3): Made his collegiate debut on both defense and special teams. Recorded an assisted tackle on defense…At Wake Forest (Oct. 3): Saw his most extended action of the season in a 48-snap appearance against the Demon Deacons. Finished with six tackles (five solo)…At Florida State (Oct. 31): Had what was statistically the best game of his rookie season, posting a season-best eight tackles (six solo), two passes defensed and his first career interception of then-FSU and current Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder. Also forced his first career fumble during the game.
2008: Redshirted while rehabilitating the knee injury he suffered in the final game of his high school career.
HIGH SCHOOL: A highly recruited prep prospect who lettered three times in football at Laurinburg (N.C.) High School...Was rated a four-star recruit and the No. 6 weakside LB in the country by Scout.com…Was also listed as the No. 3 player in the state and the No. 15 OLB in the country by Rivals.com…Earned his conference’s defensive player of the year award and was also an all-conference and all-region selection after recording an astounding 219 tackles, five sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal his senior year in 2007…Suffered a severe knee injury in his final high school game, one that forced him to redshirt during his first year of college while he rehabilitated it…Was also an all-region and all-conference choice after collecting 130 tackles, three INTs and three fumble recoveries his junior year…Lettered twice in both track and basketball.
PERSONAL: Given name Darren Terrell Manning…Nickname is “T-Time”…Born in Laurinburg, N.C. …Single…Has volunteered at football camps and signed autographs for kids in his hometown…Held a job at a furniture store in Laurinburg during high school, assisting both in the warehouse and on deliveries…Enjoys spending time with friends and family…Names his favorite athletes as Kobe Bryant and Lawrence Taylor and says watching highlights of Taylor had the biggest influence on him as a player…Lists Edgar Allan Poe as his favorite poet, Gangs of New York as his favorite movie and 50 Cent as his favorite recording artist…Residence: Laurinburg, N.C.
- Selected in the fifth round (No. 163 overall) of the 2012 NFL Draft (23rd linebacker taken), as General Manager Ted Thompson traded up for the third time on draft weekend to take a defensive player.
- The last of six consecutive defenders chosen by the Packers to open the draft in 2012, the club surrendered a sixth-rounder and two seventh-round choices to move up to take him.
- A two-year starter and three-year letterwinner at North Carolina State who elected to forego his final season at the collegiate level, he appeared in 36 games with 26 starts during his career, finishing with 207 tackles (128 solo), including 26 for loss, 10½ sacks, five interceptions, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
- Returned from an early-season injury to help the Wolfpack post a 6-2 record over their final eight games in 2011, joining fellow 2012 draft choices Luke Kuechly (Carolina), Zach Brown (Tennessee), and Sean Spence (Pittsburgh) as players to earn ACC Linebacker of the Week honors multiple times during the regular season.
- Had a memorable senior season in high school, earning his conference’s defensive player of the year award after recording an impressive 219 tackles, five sacks, three INTs, four forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries for Laurinburg (N.C.) High in 2007.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
- A productive and consistent defender who appeared in 36 games over the course of three seasons at N.C. State, starting 26 and collecting 207 tackles (128 solo), 26 of them for loss, 10½ sacks, five interceptions, eight passes defensed, five forced fumbles and five fumble recoveries.
- Earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors as a junior in 2011 after setting career highs in every statistical category, including tackles (83), solo tackles (51), tackles for loss (13), sacks (5½), interceptions (three) and fumble recoveries (three).
- Earned ACC Linebacker of the Week honors twice in the final four weeks of the 2011 regular season, one of four players to garner the award more than once during the season, and each of the other three (Luke Kuechly, Zach Brown, Sean Spence) were taken in the first three rounds of the draft.
- Became a full-time starter in 2010, opening all 13 games and finishing fourth on the squad with 76 tackles (46 solo), while also tying for second with five sacks and adding an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.
- Saw his first collegiate action as a redshirt freshman in 2009, appearing in all 12 games with two starts and posting 48 tackles (31 solo, two for loss), four passes defensed and the first interception and forced fumble of his career.
- Majored in African studies and is one semester short of graduation.
2011: Earned second-team All-Atlantic Coast Conference honors from the league’s media following his junior season…Started all 11 games in which he appeared, missing two games with a knee injury in the season’s first half, but returning for the final eight and finishing fourth on the team with a career-high 83 tackles (51 solo)…Solo-tackle total was also a career high, as were his 13 tackles for loss, 5½ sacks (tied for the team lead), three interceptions and three fumble recoveries…Also forced two fumbles, tying a career high…Watched as the team dropped both of the games in which he was sidelined, yielding 40-plus points in each contest…Returned to help the team go 6-2 over its final eight games, averaging nine tackles per game and posting 11 tackles for loss, five sacks, two INTs, two forced fumbles and three recoveries during that span…One of the veteran leaders on a defensive unit that ranked No. 4 in the conference in both total defense (354.9 ypg.) and rushing defense (131.2 ypg.) at season’s end…Vs. South Alabama (Sept. 17): Appeared on 16 plays, but suffered a knee injury that would require surgery and force him to miss the next two contests…Vs. Central Michigan (Oct. 8): Returned to action and made 10 tackles (four solo, one for loss), including his first full sack of the season…Vs. North Carolina (Nov. 5): Had one of his better performances in a 13-0 shutout win over the in-state rival Tar Heels, finishing with a team-leading 11 tackles (seven solo, one for loss) and a sack. Outing earned him ACC Linebacker of the Week honors for the first time in his career and the game marked the Wolfpack’s first shutout against North Carolina since Sept. 19, 1970…Vs. Clemson (Nov. 19): Made a significant impact in the team’s 37-13 upset win over the No. 7-ranked Tigers, tallying nine tackles (seven solo), including three for loss, and two critical fumble recoveries, a single-game career high. Recovered each loose ball inside the Clemson 20-yard line and both possessions led to Wolfpack scores…Vs. Maryland (Nov. 26): Earned ACC Linebacker of the Week for the second time in four games after recording seven tackles (five solo, two for loss), a sack and both a forced and recovered fumble. Helped key a comeback that saw the Wolfpack overcome a 41-14 third-quarter deficit en route to a 56-41 victory, marking the largest second-half comeback in ACC history.
2010: Started all 13 of the team’s games, a career high, and finished with 76 tackles (46 solo), including 11 for loss, five sacks, an interception, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries as a redshirt sophomore...Tackle total ranked fourth on the team and the sack number was good for second…The Wolfpack finished the season 9-3 with a victory over No. 22-ranked West Virginia in the Champs Sports Bowl, just the school’s second nine-win season since 1994…A steady contributor to a defensive unit that finished the season ranked No. 2 in the ACC in rushing defense at 114.3 yards per game…Vs. Cincinnati (Sept. 16): Tallied four tackles (three solo) and enjoyed the first multi-sack outing of his career, twice dropping Bearcats QB Zach Collaros in a 30-19 win that gave N.C. State its first 3-0 start since 2002…At Clemson (Nov. 6): Posted nine tackles (six solo, one for loss), and added his first and only INT of the season, also forcing a fumble during the game…At North Carolina (Nov. 20): Finished with eight tackles (four solo), including a season-high three for loss and his fifth sack of the season. North Carolina had assumed possession at their own 5-yard line with 36 seconds remaining in the game, trailing by two, but Manning sacked QB T.J. Yates in the end zone for a safety, essentially ending the game.
2009: Saw his first action as a redshirt freshman, appearing in all 12 games with two starts and posting 48 tackles (31 solo), including two for loss, an interception, four passes defensed and a forced fumble...Vs. South Carolina (Sept. 3): Made his collegiate debut on both defense and special teams. Recorded an assisted tackle on defense…At Wake Forest (Oct. 3): Saw his most extended action of the season in a 48-snap appearance against the Demon Deacons. Finished with six tackles (five solo)…At Florida State (Oct. 31): Had what was statistically the best game of his rookie season, posting a season-best eight tackles (six solo), two passes defensed and his first career interception of then-FSU and current Minnesota Vikings QB Christian Ponder. Also forced his first career fumble during the game.
2008: Redshirted while rehabilitating the knee injury he suffered in the final game of his high school career.
HIGH SCHOOL: A highly recruited prep prospect who lettered three times in football at Laurinburg (N.C.) High School...Was rated a four-star recruit and the No. 6 weakside LB in the country by Scout.com…Was also listed as the No. 3 player in the state and the No. 15 OLB in the country by Rivals.com…Earned his conference’s defensive player of the year award and was also an all-conference and all-region selection after recording an astounding 219 tackles, five sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries and a blocked field goal his senior year in 2007…Suffered a severe knee injury in his final high school game, one that forced him to redshirt during his first year of college while he rehabilitated it…Was also an all-region and all-conference choice after collecting 130 tackles, three INTs and three fumble recoveries his junior year…Lettered twice in both track and basketball.
PERSONAL: Given name Darren Terrell Manning…Nickname is “T-Time”…Born in Laurinburg, N.C. …Single…Has volunteered at football camps and signed autographs for kids in his hometown…Held a job at a furniture store in Laurinburg during high school, assisting both in the warehouse and on deliveries…Enjoys spending time with friends and family…Names his favorite athletes as Kobe Bryant and Lawrence Taylor and says watching highlights of Taylor had the biggest influence on him as a player…Lists Edgar Allan Poe as his favorite poet, Gangs of New York as his favorite movie and 50 Cent as his favorite recording artist…Residence: Laurinburg, N.C.
