Manny Lawson life and biography

The 2006 1st-round draft pick enjoyed his best season in 2009, set­ting a new single-season career-high with 6.5 sacks and is tied for the franchise record for most FFs by a LB. Widely considered one of the finest athletes to ever play at NC State, Lawson made the switch from college defensive end to outside linebacker in his first NFL season.

TRANSACTIONS:
Originally the second of two 1st-round (22nd pick overall) draft choices by SF in 2006.

GOLDMINE:
•When the 49ers drafted Manny, they received a player who not only had ideal physical attributes, but one who also possessed an impressive mental capacity. Manny, whose father was in the Air Force and mother was a resi­dential nurse, was taught the values of discipline at an early age. Academics always came first and athletics were just for fun. Anything below a B+ was not satisfactory to his parents. Fast forward a few years and the early les­sons paid off as Manny graduated with a degree in industrial engineering from North Carolina State. He then went on to score a 43 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test, which tied for the highest of his draft class.
•Manny has a love and passion for architecture. The whole concept of de­signing a home that somebody enjoys and wants to live in is intriguing to him. He hopes that he can find a way to get into the field once he’s done playing. He also plans to design his own house.

AWARDS & HONORS:
2006: Diet Pepsi Defensive Rookie of the Week (Week 2)
2008: Ed Block Courage Award

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS:
•Led the team with a career-high 6.5 sacks in 2009 and tied the franchise record for most FFs by a linebacker in a single season (4).

2009:
•Led the team with a career-high 6.5 sacks and tied the franchise record for most FFs by a 49ers linebacker in a single season (4).
•Pressured QB Kurt Warner into throwing an INT to CB Nate Clements at Arz. (9/13).
•Tallied a career-high 11 tackles at Min. (9/27).
•Registered a sack and later forced a fumble that was returned for a TD by DT Ray McDonald in the 4th qtr. vs. StL (10/4).
•Sacked QB Matt Schaub at Hou. (10/25) and sacked QB Vince Young vs. Ten. (11/8). With a full sack in 3-straight games [at GB - QB Aaron Rodgers (11/22); vs. Jax. - QB David Garrard (11/29); at Sea. - QB Matt Hassel­beck (12/6)] he became the first 49er to accomplish the feat since DE Andre Carter in 2002.

2008:
•Blocked punt in 1st qtr. and tallied 2 special teams tackles at Sea. (9/14).
•Left game at NO (9/28) with a hamstring strain following a kickoff in 3rd qtr.
•Blocked a 35-yd. FG attempt in 3rd qtr., which was returned 74 yds. by CB Nate Clements for a TD at NYG (10/19).
•Posted a career-high 10 tackles vs. Sea. (10/26) to go along with his first sack of season.
•Tallied 5 tackles, 1 sack, 1 FF, 1 FR and 1 PD at Dal. (11/23). The FR occurred on a QB Tony Romo lateral that was intended for RB Tashard Choice, which Lawson broke up and recovered.

2007:
•Tallied 9 tackles in season-opening 20-17 victory vs. Arz. (9/10).
•Placed on IR (9/21) after tearing ACL during practice and underwent suc­cessful surgery (9/26).

2006:
•In first home game vs. StL (9/17), posted 2 sacks in 49ers 20-13 victory and was voted Week 2 Diet Pepsi NFL Defensive Rookie of the Week.
•Blocked punt early in 3rd qtr. vs. Oak. (10/8), allowing 49ers to start at Raid­ers 9-yd. line and helped set up QB Alex Smith’s 6-yd. TD pass to WR Arnaz Battle. Also deflected pass in 4th qtr., which was then intercepted by CB Walt Harris.
•Recovered a fumble off a QB Brad Johnson sack to help position 49ers for a K Joe Nedney FG in 9-3 victory vs. Min. (11/5).
•Grabbed first career INT at StL (11-26), picking off a QB Marc Bulger pass intended for WR Torry Holt.

COLLEGE

•Teamed with DE Mario Williams in college to form a premier pass rushing tandem in college football as the duo would combine to sack quarterbacks a total of 39 times during their final two years. All-Atlantic Coast Conference first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report as a senior after registering 58 tackles, 21 pressures, 4 PDs and 10.5 sacks. Ranks 2nd on N.C. State’s all-time record list with 7 blocked kicks and 4th with 20.5 sacks. Led nation in 2002 with 3 blocked punts. Competed on Wolfpack track squad in spring of 2003, and in his first meet, won the long jump and the triple jump in the Patriot Games. Also captured 1st place in the Carolina Heels Challenge in the long jump and 2nd in the triple jump. Posted fastest time in 60 meter hurdles (indoors) for N.C. State that season (8.55).

PERSONAL

•Attended Eastern Wayne (Goldsboro, NC) HS, where he was rated as one of the Top 25 players (#21) by Super Prep in the state of North Carolina during his senior year.
•Recorded 54 tackles and 11 sacks on defense, and also rushed for 456 yds. on offense during his final season, picking up Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors.
•Competed in four events in track: long jump, triple jump, 55-meter dash, and the 55-meter hurdles.
•Father is a retired member of the Air Force.
•Born Manny Lawson (7/3/84) in Goldsboro, NC.
•Majored in industrial engineering.

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