Brayden Manley

Mercer (2023-24):2024 Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year and NCAA Division I FCS second-team all-America as a sophomore … Amassed 38 tackles, 18 tackles for loss, 9.5 tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries, a forced fumble and two pass breakups over 13 games as a sophomore … Helped lead Mercer to an 11-3 record, SoCon championship and quarterfinals of the FCS playoffs in ’24 … Notched season highs with eight tackles and 2.5 sacks against Western Carolina (Oct. 26, 2024) … Had a season-best three QB hurries against Furman (Nov. 23, 2024) … Had two TFL and a half sack against Rhode Island in second round of FCS playoffs … Had 1.5 TFL and a sack against eventual national champion North Dakota State in FCS quarterfinals … Played in all 12 games as a true freshman in 2023, finishing with 12 tackles, 5.5 TFL, 4.5 sacks and two forced fumbles. High School:Named conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … Played both offense and defense … Coached by Michael Twichell. Personal:Majoring in literature, media and communication … Is one of six siblings in his family.