Jeffrey Manning, Jr. has had a big impact on the Montana State football team, both literally and figuratively. A person needs to look no further than the play he made at the 1:16 mark of the first quarter in the Bobcats’ most recent game against the Cal Poly Mustangs to understand all of that.
The 6-foot-1, 192-pound junior’s literal jolt on Cal Poly wide receiver Xavier Moore ended up putting MSU in prime territory to gain a two-touchdown lead. Moore had all but secured the football for what would’ve been a first down when Manning laid him out on the Bobcat Stadium turf.
The hit jarred the ball loose, sending it directly into the hands of cornerback Tyrel Thomas for an interception that could’ve just as easily been ruled a forced fumble/fumble recovery. It also happened to be Thomas’ first series back after missing time early with an injury.
Figuratively, the Oregon State transfer, his presence on that play and all season has been a key influence in taking the MSU secondary from a huge question mark to an admiration of the statement Brent Vigen made during fall camp.
MSU’s first-year head coach consistently said “it might be our least proven but most talented group.” And the first half of the season has shown that this Bobcat secondary might be as formidable as the unit that helped MSU advance to the semifinals for the first time in 35 years back in 2019.
The Bobcats lost All-Big Sky safeties, Brayden Konkol and Jahque Allenye, along with cornerback Damien Washington. Key safety JoJo Henderson also used up his eligibility and cornerback Greg Filer III, who started in 2018, decided to transfer, leaving not only holes at three-fourths of the starting spots, but in the depth chart as well.
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“Jeff’s been really steady,” MSU head coach Brent Vigen said. “We need our free safety to be able to cover a lot of ground and tackle the football and Jeff has been able to do both. Jeff’s really going out there every down and providing consistency and playmaking abilities, so I’m really pleased with where Jeff is at.”
A suddenly deep secondary also featuring safety Tre Webb, nickleback Ty Okada, and a whole host of cornerbacks, including Thomas, James Campbell, Eric Zambrano, Simeon Woodard and Level Price, Jr., has helped Montana State come up with 11 interceptions in the first six games. That total leads the FCS.
Manning and Okada each have two, Thomas, Zambrano and
Woodard all have one. MSU linebackers have four; Callahan O’Reilly (2), Troy Andersen (1) and Tadan Gilman (1) have the others.
The MSU pass defense ranks first in the Big Sky in terms of yards allowed per game and passing efficiency where MSU has a 97.1 rating in an area where 125.0 is considered very good.
A big reason for their success stems from the team’s overall speed. And the additions in the secondary, particularly of the smooth-moving Manning, are a big reason for it.
“I think that ultimately our team speed comes down to our preparation,” Manning said. “I would say we had the fall camp and the extra year, so we were just constantly working and the last couple weeks (before the season) we just focused and dialed into what we have to accomplish.”
Another is MSU’s stout defensive line.
“My thought watching game film is that ultimately the front seven dominates and shows their physicality and how dominant they can be, and I just love playing behind them,” Manning said, while alluding to defensive tackle Chase Benson of Helena. “Since I’ve been on campus, I’ve noticed just
working out and being around Chase is his work ethic is second to none. He’s a beast to say the least. Strongest player on the team and I wouldn’t even say it’s close.”
In the Cal Poly game MSU allowed just six completions in 18 attempts and came up with four interceptions – including one by Manning – allowing a scant 45 yards in the process. Those numbers equate to a passer rating of just 9.8.
On the season, Manning has two interceptions and both have led to Bobcat touchdowns. The first came on the first drive of the 2021 season and was just the third play of the year for the MSU defense against FBS Wyoming in Laramie.
Manning dropped into coverage and read Wyoming quarterback Sean Chambers, picked him off and returned the ball to the Wyoming 15. On the next play MSU quarterback Matt McKay found Lance McCutcheon for a quick 7-0 lead. The quick start helped the Bobcats hang tough in what finished as a 19-16 MSU loss to the Pokes.
Manning’s second was last Saturday against the Mustangs. This one didn’t involve a return and MSU had 77 yards away from the Cal Poly end zone, but the Bobcats made the most of it and eight play later Isaiah Ifanse was in the end zone giving MSU a 21-0 second quarter lead.
Manning was a top 100 recruit in the football rich and most populous state in country, California, per 247Sports.com and was considered the No. 12 cornerback and No. 57 player overall by Scout.com. He prepped at Cathedral High in Los Angeles after transferring from Bellflower High and was invited to the Army All-American Bowl.
He was initially picked up by Oregon State of the PAC-12 and, as a redshirt freshman in 2018, started a pair of games for the Beavers, while playing in all 12.
He transferred to MSU in January of 2020, so he had to wait 20 months before finally setting foot on a gridiron for a game. Manning used his time well and, like many of his teammates, got into great physical condition.
“I would for sure credit it to (the layoff),” he said. “We were just constantly grinding and working out, and it shows.”
MSU will gets it biggest FCS test of the season this Friday night when it travels to Ogden, Utah to take on reigning Big Sky champion Weber State.
“We have a quick turnaround, so I think we’re ready to prepare and get back out there,” he said following the Cal Poly win.
Photos by Brooks Nuanez and Jason Bacaj. All Rights Reserved.
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