After earning the Scout team player of the year on ’03, Manny Lawson went on to earn All-ACC honors as a Junior (1st Team) and a Senior (2nd Team) at NC State. He also took home the Mike Hardy Award in ’04 and ’05 as well, which is awarded to the player that best displays a winning attitude and plays beyond their capabilities on the NC State football team. Lawson ranks in the top-5 in NC State history in both sacks (4th – 21) and tackles for loss (4th – 41). Not only were Manny’s collegiate numbers impressive, but his performance at the NFL combine had scouts turning their heads, when he ran a 4.43 40-yard dash and scored a 43 out of 50 on the Wonderlic test, which was the highest score in his draft class. When draft day came around, Manny Lawson became one of only 15 Wolfpack players to be drafted in the first round, when he was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers with the 22nd pick in the 2006 NFL draft.

Lawson is currently in the 4th year of his 5-year rookie contract worth $13.9 million, and is a starter at outside linebacker in the 49ers 3-4 defensive scheme. This year he is back to full strength, after tearing his ACL back in 2007, when he missed all but 2 games of the season. He has already set a career high with 3.5 sacks this season, and he is on pace to break his career high for tackles, needing only 12 more tackles in the next 6 games to surpass his current record.

We were recently able to catch up with Manny and ask him about his time at NC State and what life has been like since he became a 49er.

PI: What was your favorite memory of playing football at NC State?

ML: My favorite moment would probably be my blocked punt my freshman year at Clemson. Another moment would obviously be the Gator Bowl victory over Notre Dame. Just playing that game with all of the guys really meant a lot. Then just being around the guys in general. We had a lot of fun together, we enjoyed each others company and we still keep in contact with one another. We just had a lot of fun out there on the field.

PI: What was it like playing in Carter-Finley?

ML: We have a really good fanbase. From students, to alumni, to people who just want to come see us play; the stadium is pretty much always packed. To see how much the stadium has grown now, the feeling has just grown.

PI: Tell us about what life has been like since leaving NC State.

ML: We play games for about half of the year, but you have to stay in shape for the entire year. Other than that, when I can get a little vacation time, I love to go see friends and family. That’s about it really.

PL: How has this season been with the 49ers?

ML: I think this season has been different than any of the others since I’ve been here. When you look at the caliber of players that we have here, our understanding of what’s going on and what we want to accomplish, things are different. Our mindset from the coaching staff all the way down to the players is different. With that being said, the season hasn’t gone exactly the way we would have liked, but we still have 6 more games left.

PI: How have you seen your self developing as a person, player, leader, etc.?

ML: I remember when I first got here, everything seemed like it was moving so fast. It seemed like the plays were really fast. Everything was happening really fast. As the years progress, things begin to slow down. You begin to understand the game more. Not only do you understand what your job is and what your role is, but you begin to understand what everyone else is doing as well. So I’m trying to make myself a better player.

PI: We’ve noticed that you enjoy blogging a little bit. Do you enjoy interacting with the fans out in San Francisco?

ML: It gives me a chance to give the fans insight into the mind and life of a player. We can actually be cool people once you get to know us!

PI: What are some of your hobbies outside of football?

ML: I enjoy bowling. I really enjoy movies, and consider myself a big movie connoisseur. Also, pretty much half of our team is involved in outreach projects every single week. That’s something a lot of people don’t even know about.

PI: If you could say something directly to the Wolfpack fanbase, what would you tell them?

ML: Thank you so much for all of the love and support that you showed me while I was at NC State, and still while I’m away. I wouldn’t change where I went and who I meant for the world.

Thanks Manny!

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