In 2010: Hard-hitting linebacker who ranked fourth on the team in tackles with 76 for the season, tied for second in sacks and had two caused and two recovered fumbles ... Led the team in tackles in the season opener with 10 against Western Carolina ... Tallied 11 tackles for loss in his first year as a starter, he manned the weak side ... Sacked the quarterback in the endzone for a safety to preserve the win over North Carolina ... Forced a fumble and picked off a pass at Clemson.

In 2009: Started the Duke and Florida State contests ... In for a season-high 48 snaps at Wake Forest, his eight tackles at Florida State was his high in that category ... Also caused a fumble against the Seminoles.

In 2008: Redshirted the season as he rehabbed from knee surgery suffered in the last game of his prep career.

Prep: A preseason All-American who recorded an impressive 219 tackles, five sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, three quarterback pressures, three passes broken up and one blocked kick as a senior for Coach Mark Barnes ... Named conference defensive player of the year, all-conference and all-region after his senior year ... Selected to play in the Shrine Bowl ... A four-star prospect and the No. 6 weakside linebacker by Scout.com ... Rivals.com ranked him as a four-star recruit, the No. 15 outside linebacker in the nation and the No. 3 player in North Carolina ... Two-time most outstanding defensive player at Scotland HS ... Earned all-conference and all-region honors after collecting 130 tackles, three interceptions and three fumble recoveries as a junior ... Named second-team junior All-American after his junior season ... Also named all-conference after his sophomore season ... An Africana studies major.

04/16/2012 - With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away (April 26-28, New York), Terrell Manning's decision to leave N.C. State after the 2011 season is beginning to look somewhat risky. While most of the draft analysts still see the 6-foot-3, 237-pound outside linebacker as a likely pick, Manning's status has slipped some during the past month. Once assessed as a second-rounder, Manning has slipped into the fourth/fifth round range in several of the projections. A couple of those even think he might wind up in the big post-draft pool of free agents. Manning's decision to go pro no doubt was swayed in part by a knee injury he sustained last season. After surgery he was able to return two weeks later and played a key role in the Wolfpack's strong finish, 8-5 record and bowl win over Louisville. It's not completely impossible that three State linebackers will be drafted. Inside LB Audie Cole is generally projected to go in the third or fourth round. Dwayne Mattox, an outside LB, has a some chance of going late. UNC's Zach Brown has a shot at being the first outside linebacker picked. The first ACC player to go could be Boston College inside LB Luke Kuechly. - The News & Observer

Despite averaging 76 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss and five sacks in two starting seasons for the Wolfpack, Manning surprised many with his decision to leave after his junior season. While he's athletic and possesses intriguing natural pass rush skills, Manning is also highly inconsistent. He also is a bit of a medical concern as he missed two games in 2011 with after undergoing minor knee surgery and redshirted the 2008 season due to knee injury suffered in high school a year earlier. With Manning there is upside to consider, however. When Manning returned from the knee injury in October, he went on to enjoy the most productive stretch of his career, twice being named the ACC Linebacker of the Week (North Carolina, Maryland). He was a boom or bust player in these contests as well, however, as he was against Louisville in the Belk Bowl. Manning has obvious athleticism and appears to have the frame capable of bulking up. In an attacking scheme he has the physical skill-set to develop.

Strengths: Good athlete. Shows a natural feel for pass rushing. Very good lateral agility to shake pass blockers. Can attack the edge with speed and has the flexibility to dip low and under the tackle's reach. Is only an average open field tackler overall but closes quickly on relatively immobile quarterbacks. Consistently heavy hitter who flashes explosiveness and the ability to separate the ball. At least adequate ball skills. Obvious untapped potential. Weaknesses: Possesses below average instincts for the linebacker position. Frankly, Manning leaves more plays on the field than he makes. His lateral agility and burst often put him in position to make big plays but he takes questionable routes to the ball and struggles to avoid blockers when in pursuit. Generally an effective open field tackler but doesn't wrap consistently and loses tackles because of it. His athleticism gives him potential in coverage but he shows only average awareness at this time. Suffered a knee injury on Sept. 17 against South Alabama. Underwent "minor" knee surgery and returned to play the final eight games... Redshirted in 2008 after suffering a knee injury during the final game of his high school career.

Competition against back-ups Zombo, Walden, and Jones.

Originally Posted by: G-Force 

FWIW, I know from watching the 49er war room cam that Baalke was not happy when he came off the board two picks ahead of their pick . . . which is probably why Thompson traded up. He wasn’t going to get past #165.

sonoco wrote:

“I feel like I was as good as any linebacker in this draft,” Manning said.