Wynton McManis

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Brown

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Photo by: Joe Murphy

Position:
LB
Ht./Wt.:
6-1 / 220
Class:
Sophomore
Hometown:
Olive Branch, Miss.
Prev School:
Olive Branch HS

At Memphis: Enters senior season having played in 34 career games, starting 14 including six games in 2014 … Had played in 33 straight games before an injury sidelined him for the final three games of the 2014 season … Over three-year career has notched 82 total tackles including 57 solo hits … Has registered four tackles for lost yardage along with two pass breakups, two forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries … Versatile backer played both at the Sam and Will positions during playing career and heads into camp as the starter at Will.

Honors (Academic & Athletic): Ahead of the 2015 season was named Preseason American Athletic Conference fourth team by Phil Steele.

2014 (Junior): Began the season by starting the first five games of the season at one of the linebacker positions … Played in the first eight games before being sidelined the final three regular-season contests with an injury … Final regular season game played in 2014 was at Temple as the Tigers posted their sixth victory of the season to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2008 … Returned to play in the Tigers’ bowl victory over BYU in the inaugural Miami Beach Bowl … For the year was a member of defensive unit which ranked 11th nationally in scoring defense, allowing just 19.5 points per game … Memphis was eighth in pass efficiency defense (106.31) and ranked 19th nationally against the run (121.5 ypg) … Memphis’ Red Zone Defense was third-best in FCS Football (.688) One of two tackles in the season-opening 63-0 win over Austin Peay was an assisted stop for a two-yard loss in the second quarter … Had two tackles in the Tigers’ game at UCLA … Career-high, eight-tackle effort came in Memphis’ 36-17 win over Middle Tennessee … Helped set the tone on MTSU’s first offensive series with a pair of tackles following short pass completions as the Raiders went three-and-out … Had four tackles at Ole Miss including solo stop on the first play from scrimmage as the Rebels went three-and-out … Had a tackle for a four-yard loss during Ole Miss’ first offensive series of the second half … In Memphis’ American Athletic Conference opener at Cincinnati, forced a first-quarter fumble that the Bearcats would recover but on the same series broke up a pass on a fourth-and-two play to stop a UC series … Memphis would add a field goal on its next offensive series to take a 17-7 lead and on the ensuing kickoff stopped the returner with a tackle at the 20.

2013 (Sophomore): Played in all 12 games of his sophomore season ... Lone tackle of the season came on special teams in the season opener against Duke ... Helped pin the Blue Devils inside their five yard-line with a solo tackle on Tom Hornsey's career-long, 79-yard punt early in the game ... Stopped the returner after a three-yard gain to the Duke 6 and an illegal block flag moved the ball back to the three.

2012 (Freshman): Played in all 12 games, finishing freshman season with 27 total tackles (11 solo hits and 16 assists) ... Had 2.5 tackles for loss, intercepted a pass, forced a fumble and recovered another ... Just four games into his first season on the University of Memphis team, made his debut as a starter for the Tigers ... Went on to start eight games as a true freshman ... In playing debut against UT Martin, first career tackle was for lost yardage ... Posted a career-high seven tackles and recovered a fumble in Week Two at Arkansas State ... In first career start, intercepted a pass returning the ball four yards for a touchdown to give the Tigers an early 7-0 lead at Duke ... Also had two tackles against the Blue Devils ... In addition to four tackles including one for lost yardage in the Tigers' Conference USA win over Rice, had a quarterback hurry to force an incomplete pass on the Owls' final play from scrimmage ... The incompletion forced Rice to punt with under three minutes to play and the Tigers would run out the clock ... Had four tackles and forced a fumble at SMU.

Olive Branch High School: Played for Coach Scott Samsel at Olive Branch High School ... Lettered two seasons for the Conquistadors, playing quarterback and linebacker ... Member of the 2011 Mississippi 6A state championship team that went undefeated (17-0) ... In the 6A state championship game against Petal, recorded 13 tackles with eight solo stops and five assists ... Recorded 135 tackles, including 40 solo hits, as a senior ... Averaged 9.0 tackles per game ... Posted 11 TFL, one interception, two forced fumbles and nine pass deflections in 2011 ... Had a stellar showing against South Panola with 17 tackles ... Named to the Mississippi High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) 6A All-State second team ... Selected to the MHSAA Region 1 All-Region first team ... A Clarion Ledger All-State second team pick ... Named to The Commercial Appeal's All-Mississippi/Arkansas County Team ... Received the Leslie Pool Quistor Award at Olive Branch ... Credited with 55 tackles, four interceptions, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery as a junior ... Named Nat/Underclassmen Quarterback MVP as a junior ... Named to The Commercial Appeal's "Best of the Preps" ... Selected to Sports Illustrated's All-America Team ... Also lettered in basketball and track.

Personal: Son of Kim and Wenda McManis ... Born Sept. 20, 1994 in Memphis ... Interdisciplinary Studies major.