Denvis Manns
Encyclopedia
Denvis Manns was the third ever NCAA running back
to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons after Tony Dorsett
(University of Pittsburgh
, 1973–1977) and Amos Lawrence (University of North Carolina
, 1977–1980).
Manns graduated from Lufkin High School
in 1995 where he rushed for 2,000 yards his senior year and led the Panthers to the 1994 5A quarterfinals. Manns’ number (#33) is the first (and currently the only) football number to ever be retired at Lufkin High School. He then played football
for New Mexico State University
1995-1998 where he achieved his NCAA rushing record and still holds the school's career rushing record with 4,962 yards. Manns is one of only five players in NCAA Division I-A history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.
(in Las Cruces
, NM) in 1998, Manns was the co-offensive Big West Conference
MVP after rushing for a school record 1,469 yards. On Oct.31, 1998, Manns ran for 131 yards against Utah State to become just the third player in NCAA 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. It 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
.
' training camp in both 1999 and 2001 as a free agent. He played in NFL Europa for the Barcelona Dragons
in 2000 and the Frankfurt Galaxy
in 2001. In 2005, Manns was inducted into the NMSU Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2002 Manns switched gears and began to teach and coach football as an assistant at Los Lunas High School
. Five years later, in 2007, Manns became the interim head football coach at Los Lunas High School
and this past season he was named the head
football
coach
for the Los Lunas Tigers in Los Lunas, New Mexico
. Manns is also the head track coach at Los Lunas High School. The Tigers did not go to the playoffs after Manns took over as head coach
just prior to the start of the 2007-08 season, but he did lead the team to four wins, one more than the team had in 2006-07, including an exciting 30-27 overtime win over Rio Grande High School on Oct. 11, 2007.
Running back
A running back is a gridiron football position, who is typically lined up in the offensive backfield. The primary roles of a running back are to receive handoffs from the quarterback for a rushing play, to catch passes from out of the backfield, and to block.There are usually one or two running...
to rush for 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons after Tony Dorsett
Tony Dorsett
Anthony "Tony" Drew Dorsett is a former American football running back in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys and Denver Broncos.-Early years:...
(University of Pittsburgh
University of Pittsburgh
The University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, is a state-related research university located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States. Founded as Pittsburgh Academy in 1787 on what was then the American frontier, Pitt is one of the oldest continuously chartered institutions of...
, 1973–1977) and Amos Lawrence (University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, 1977–1980).
Manns graduated from Lufkin High School
Lufkin High School
Lufkin High School is a public secondary school located in Angelina County, Texas . It serves the Lufkin area as part of the Lufkin Independent School District. The current Lufkin High School was formed in 1970 by consolidation of Lufkin High School and Dunbar High School, the formerly...
in 1995 where he rushed for 2,000 yards his senior year and led the Panthers to the 1994 5A quarterfinals. Manns’ number (#33) is the first (and currently the only) football number to ever be retired at Lufkin High School. He then played football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
1995-1998 where he achieved his NCAA rushing record and still holds the school's career rushing record with 4,962 yards. Manns is one of only five players in NCAA Division I-A history to rush for at least 1,000 yards in four consecutive seasons.
College
As a senior at New Mexico State UniversityNew Mexico State University
New Mexico State University at Las Cruces , is a major land-grant university in Las Cruces, New Mexico, United States...
(in Las Cruces
Las Cruces
Las Cruces could refer to:* Battle of Monte de las Cruces* Las Cruces, California* Las Cruces, Chile* Las Cruces, New Mexico ** The main campus of New Mexico State University...
, NM) in 1998, Manns was the co-offensive Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
MVP after rushing for a school record 1,469 yards. On Oct.31, 1998, Manns ran for 131 yards against Utah State to become just the third player in NCAA 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. It 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
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
record for rushing yards by a freshman.
Manns also set the Big West Conference
Big West Conference
The Big West Conference is an NCAA-affiliated Division I mid-major college athletic conference. When the conference began in 1969, its name was the Pacific Coast Athletic Association . After nineteen years, in 1988, its name was changed to the Big West Conference. The conference stopped...
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
Pervis Atkins
Pervis R. Atkins, Jr. is a former American football player. He played college football at New Mexico State University, where he was a halfback, flanker, and placekicker. In 1959 he became the first of four straight New Mexico State University players to lead the nation in rushing yardage with...
and Walt Williams
Walt Williams
Walter Ander Williams is a retired American professional basketball player. A sharpshooting 6'8" forward/guard, Williams attended school at the University of Maryland from 1988 to 1992, and is credited by many for resurrecting the school's basketball program which was going through very...
.
Personal
In June 2002 Denvis and his longtime girlfriend Tamie welcomed their first daughter Maliyah Jenea. In September 2004 Denvis and Tamie were married in a small ceremony. In March 2005 the couple welcomed their second daughter, Marleigh Jade. The Manns family currently lives in Los Lunas, NM.Professional
Manns attended the Dallas CowboysDallas Cowboys
The Dallas Cowboys are a professional American football franchise which plays in the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference of the National Football League . They are headquartered in Valley Ranch in Irving, Texas, a suburb of Dallas...
' training camp in both 1999 and 2001 as a free agent. He played in NFL Europa for the Barcelona Dragons
Barcelona Dragons
The Barcelona Dragons were a team originally in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. Their home field in Barcelona was the Estadi Olímpic de Montjuic, the 1992 Olympic Stadium, and later the Mini Estadi. The Dragons were successful on the field, making it...
in 2000 and the Frankfurt Galaxy
Frankfurt Galaxy
The Frankfurt Galaxy was a professional American football team that originally played in the World League of American Football and later in the resurrected NFL Europe. The team was based in Frankfurt, Germany and played in the Commerzbank-Arena, formerly called the Waldstadion.-History:In 1991, the...
in 2001. In 2005, Manns was inducted into the NMSU Athletics Hall of Fame. In 2002 Manns switched gears and began to teach and coach football as an assistant at Los Lunas High School
Los Lunas High School
Los Lunas High School is a high school in Los Lunas, Valencia County, New Mexico. In 2003 it had some 2,383 students. The school's student count before US Labor Day in September 2007 was 1,791....
. Five years later, in 2007, Manns became the interim head football coach at Los Lunas High School
Los Lunas High School
Los Lunas High School is a high school in Los Lunas, Valencia County, New Mexico. In 2003 it had some 2,383 students. The school's student count before US Labor Day in September 2007 was 1,791....
and this past season he was named the head
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
football
High school football
High school football, in North America, refers to the game of football as it is played in the United States and Canada. It ranks among the most popular interscholastic sports in both of these nations....
coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
for the Los Lunas Tigers in Los Lunas, New Mexico
Los Lunas, New Mexico
-2010:Whereas according to the 2010 U.S. Census Bureau:*72.1% White*2.0% Black*2.5% Native American*0.8% Asian*0.1% Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander*4.2% Two or more races*18.3% Other races*57.9% Hispanic or Latino -2000:...
. Manns is also the head track coach at Los Lunas High School. The Tigers did not go to the playoffs after Manns took over as head coach
Head coach
A head coach, senior coach or manager is a professional at training and developing athletes. They typically hold a more public profile and are paid more than other coaches...
just prior to the start of the 2007-08 season, but he did lead the team to four wins, one more than the team had in 2006-07, including an exciting 30-27 overtime win over Rio Grande High School on Oct. 11, 2007.