Biography

Widely considered one of the finest athletes to ever play at North Carolina State and the NFL, Manny Lawson made the switch from a college defensive end to an outside linebacker in the NFL after being drafted as a first round (22nd pick overall) choice by San Francisco 2006. As a senior at North Carolina State, Manny recorded 58 tackles, 21 pressures, four passes defensed and 10.5 sacks. He also graduated with a degree in industrial engineering. After his first game in the NFL, the 49ers coaches had found that they acquired a player that was not only an incredible athlete, but one who also possessed remarkable intellectual ability. For Manny, whose father was in the Air Force and mother was a residential nurse, academics always came first and athletics were just for fun. He was taught the values of discipline at an early age, and appreciates the value of a combination of education, athletics and enrichment in children’s lives, making him an invaluable addition to the After-School Sack Attack team. Manny had a promising 2007 season cut short due to knee injury suffered in practice leading up to third game of season, and he is ready more than ever to get back on the field.

Click here to view photo's of Manny's visit to Boeger Middle School in San Jose!