Manny Lawson
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| San Francisco 49ers — No. 99 | |
| Outside linebacker | |
| Date of birth: July 3, 1984 | |
| Place of birth: Bellevue, Nebraska | |
| Height: 6 ft 5 in (1.96 m) | Weight: 240 lb (110 kg) |
| National Football League debut | |
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| 2006 for the San Francisco 49ers | |
| Career history | |
| College: North Carolina State | |
| NFL Draft: 2006 / Round: 1 / Pick: 22 | |
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| Career highlights and awards | |
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| Stats at NFL.com | |
Manny Lawson (born on July 3, 1984 in Omaha, Nebraska) is a linebacker/defensive end in the NFL for the San Francisco 49ers. He was drafted by the 49ers in the 1st round (22nd overall) in the 2006 NFL Draft. He went to North Carolina State. His father Donald P. Lawson was in the Air Force and stationed at Offutt AFB, NE when Manny was born.
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[edit] Early life
Lawson excelled in football as well as basketball in his middle school years at Spring Creek Elementary School in Seven Springs, North Carolina.
[edit] High School Career
Lawson attended Eastern Wayne High School in Goldsboro, North Carolina. Super Prep rated Lawson as one of the Top 25 players (#21) in the state of North Carolina during his senior year. He recorded 54 tackles and 11 sacks on defense and also rushed for 456 yards on offense during his final season, picking up Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors. He competed in track in four events: long jump, triple jump, 55-meter dash, and the 55-meter hurdles.
[edit] College career
In 2002, he played in every game as a reserve outside linebacker. He recorded 35 tackles (20 solos) with a stop for a 5-yard loss on 144 plays. He caused a fumble and deflected four passes. He led the nation with three blocked punts, and was the co-winner of the Pack's Most Valuable Specialist Award.
In 2003, he played in every game as an outside linebacker, starting against Texas Tech and Georgia Tech on the strong-side. After the regular season, he shifted to right defensive end and started there against Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl. He recorded 53 tackles (33 solos) with three sacks, seven stops for losses of 29 yards and three pressures. He caused two fumbles and recovered another. He blocked two punts and had five pass deflections.
In 2004, he made Second-team All-ACC performer after ranking sixth in the conference with seven sacks for 55 yards. He ranked third on the team with a dozen stops for losses of 74 yards and second with sixteen quarterback pressures. He registered 50 tackles (39 solos) with a pair of fumble recoveries and a forced fumble. He deflected four passes and blocked a punt in his first season as a starter, lining up at right defensive end in every game. He was a co-recipient of the 2004 Cary Brewbaker Award, given to the most valuable defensive lineman. He was named the strength index champion for the Wolfpack linemen.
In 2005, Lawson made All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report. He started every game, except against Wake Forest, at right defensive end. He participated in 617 plays during the regular season. He recorded a career-high 58 tackles (33 solos), adding three solo hits on special teams. He registered 21 pressures with four pass deflections and a blocked kick. He ranked second in the conference and twelfth in the nation with 10.5 sacks for minus 83 yards. He ranked fourth in the conference, third on the team and 14th in the nation with 19.5 stops for losses of 112 yards
[edit] Pro Career
The San Francisco 49ers selected Lawson in the 2006 NFL Draft with the intention that he could bring pressure off the edges as the 49ers defense transitioned from a 4-3 defense to a 3-4. Although Lawson played defensive end in college, the 49ers felt that he had the athletic ability to change position to linebacker. Lawson impressed opposing teams with his athleticism and speed on the field. He showed that he could play linebacker at the next level consistently, making plays from sideline to sideline. He finished the year with 2.5 sacks, one interception, one blocked punt, and 2 fumble recoveries.
Lawson was voted Week 2 Rookie of the Week for his performance against the St. Louis Rams by voters on the NFL website. In the game, he recorded three tackles, two sacks, and two quarterback pressures.
In 2007 he started off the season well. He accrued 11 tackles in the 1st 2 contests, both tight victories, over Arizona and St.Louis. He had several good QB pressures but mainly was noted for his excellent coverage play, keeping both teams' tight ends fairly non-existant in the offense and letting the rest of the defense focus on stopping those teams' excellent wide receiver duos. Lawson tore his ACL during a practice preparing for a week 3 games against Pittsburgh, ending his season. His absence was immediately noticed against Pittsburgh when Pittsburgh Tight End Heath Miller erupted for 4 catches and 82 yards. That was Miller's highest yardage for the season, 2nd most in a single game for his career through 2007, his best game of 2007 and arguably the 2nd best game in his career up to that point.
[edit] External links
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