Manning named all-America

ACU junior earns second straight AFCA honor

WACO - ACU junior defensive back Danieal Manning made another piece of Wildcat football history Tuesday when he was named first team all-America by the American Football Coaches' Association.

Manning, a junior from Corsicana, was named first team AFCA all-America at defensive back after earning first team AFCA all-America honors as a return specialist in 2004.  Manning is only the second Wildcat football player to ever earn back-to-back all-America honors, joining end Von Morgan (1953-54) on that list.

Manning and Morgan are the only two ACU football players to ever be named first teamvall-America twice, and Manning is the only ACU football player to ever be named first team all-America at two positions.  Manning is one of only four players on this year's AFCA all-America team who were also on last year's team.

Last week, Manning was named first team NCAA Division II all-Southwest Region as a defensive back by Daktronics, and is now eligible for all-America honors from that organization.  Manning, in fact, was the leading vote-getter among defensive backs in the regional voting process.  The Daktronics all-America team -- voted on
by the region's sports information directors -- will be released Dec. 14.

Manning's 2005 junior season was the continuation of one of the great careers in the history of ACU football.  Manning finished the season with 49 tackles (33 solo), two tackles for loss, one sack, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and three blocked kicks.  It was his blocked punt late in the fourth quarter
against Northeastern State on Sept. 10 that led directly to a score that allowed the Wildcats to rally from a 14-0 deficit with less than eight minutes to play to beat the Redmen, 20-14, in overtime.

The versatile Manning also returned 19 punts for 243 yards (12.8 yard average) and one touchdown, and returned 13 kickoffs for 349 yards (26.8 yard average) and one score.  He also ran the ball nine times for 20 yards and caught five passes for 28 yards.  Manning has now scored 10 touchdowns in his career, including a school-record five on special teams returns.  He has scored a touchdown via pass reception, kickoff return, punt, fumble return and interception return.

Manning -- a three-time first team all-region selection -- led the Wildcats in interceptions with three and returned one for a 35-yard touchdown against Central Oklahoma.  Earlier this year he was named first team all-Lone Star Conference South Division for the third straight season, and in August he was the only active ACU player named to school's all-Century Team.