Tashawn Manning 2023 NFL Draft Scouting Report

Background: 

• During his senior year of high school, he was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia

• Mother played basketball and father played football at Marshall.

• After redshirt freshman year, he moved from defensive tackle to guard

• Ranked by ESPN as a top-75 defensive tackle
• Two-sport athlete: Discus/shot put and football

System: 

• Scheme tendencies: Mixture of power/downhill and inside zone 
• 2022 projected role: Starting RG

Pros: Tashawn Manning’s road has been less than smooth. As a high school senior, he battled acute promyelocytic leukemia. He underwent eight months of chemotherapy before being declared cancer-free in 2016. The Auburn transfer joins the Wildcats’ offense and seems like a great fit. Manning is a versatile IOL that has experience at both guard spots. He has a strong build, good arm length, and a thick lower body. His length allows him to keep defenders at bay with well-timed strikes. He shows the ability to recover if the initial punch is knocked away and re-throw and reset his hands. He has sufficient lateral quickness to rotate and change directions. There are solid reps of Manning redirecting picking up twists and stunts. I like his functional athleticism to pull in space on screens and climb to the second level to pick off linebackers. When working vertically in the run game his power is obvious. Manning displays a set of strong mitts to stop the defender’s forward momentum. He will displace defenders and open running lanes for his backs. He typically maintains good pad level to drive off the snap into his defender. 

Cons: Tashawn Manning needs more reps to develop snap-to-snap consistency. Auburn rotated their IOL, limiting his exposure and playing time. His punch timing lacks consistency—he can be late to the draw, leading to pressure to recover after the initial surge. His punch placement is a bit raw and wide. He does not consistently protect his chest and balance. As a result, he experienced a few powerful knockback sequences with stronger IDL. I think he can improve his understanding of length and how to properly use his arms routinely.

Tashawn Manning NFL Draft Scouting Report by Damian Parson