Education
As a senior at New Mexico State University (in Las Cruces, New Mexico) in 1998, Manns was the co-offensive Big West Conference Most Valuable Player after rushing for a school record 1,469 yards. On October.31, 1998, Manns ran for 131 yards against Utah State to become just the third player in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I-A history to surpass 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.
As a junior, Manns was a first team all-league pick after rushing for 1,017 yards despite missing a game due to injury and played hobbled in the final three games of the season. He ran for a career-high 221 yards in the Aggies’ 28-18 win over Cal State Northridge.
lieutenant was his third 200-yard game of his career, setting a school record.
During his sophomore season, Manns put together his second 1,000-yard season by rushing for Big West Conference leading 1,086 yards.
His most productive game was a 205-yard day in a 52-21 win over Southern Utah. He was a first team All-Big West Conference pick.
In his debut season as an Aggie, Manns concluded the season with 1,120 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
He had the most yards rushing for any true freshman in the nation, led all freshmen by averaging 153 all-purpose yards per game and set a Big West Conference record for rushing yards by a freshman.
Manns also set the Big West Conference record for average yards per carry at 7.1. He was the first player at NMSU to rush for over 1,000 yards in 21 years.
In 2005, at the age of 28, Manns was inducted into the Aggie Hall of Fame.
In 2008, Manns will be inducted into the Aggie Ring of Honor, alongside fellow Aggie standouts Pervis Atkins and Walt Williams.
