EJ Manuel
Encyclopedia
Erik Manuel Jr. (born March 19, 1990) is an American football quarterback. He currently plays college football
as the quarterback for the Seminoles
of Florida State University
. He took over the position from Christian Ponder
late in the 2009 season
due to Ponder's shoulder injury.
. He attended Bayside High School
, where he played football
. In 2004, as a freshman, he started at quarterback and threw for 589 yards and seven touchdown
s, as well as rushing for 119 yards and 1 touchdown. As a sophomore, he recorded 1,332 passing yards and 8 touchdowns as well as 276 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. As a junior, Manuel threw for 1,973 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 345 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 2007, as a senior, Manuel passed for 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns and rushed for 541 yards. He was considered a five-star recruit by Scout, a four star recruit by Rivals and both sites, as well as Sports Illustrated
, listed him the second best quarterback. An All-American quarterback in high school, Manuel was recruited by then FSU Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher
, now the head coach.
were in danger of finishing with a losing record for the first time since Bobby Bowden
took over the program. His first start was an away game against Wake Forest. He completed 15-20 for 220 yards with one touchdown, leading the seminoles to a 41-28 win over Wake Forest, who at the time had won 3 games in a row against Florida State. Manuel struggled in his 2nd game against Maryland but still managed to pull out a much needed win making FSU bowl eligible. Manuel's struggles continued against the dominating Florida Gators
and was never able to get into a rhythm as Florida State lost 37-10.
6-6 and in serious danger of letting legendary coach Bobby Bowden leave with a losing record. Manuel led Florida State to a 33-21 victory and won the Gator Bowl MVP honors.
against South Carolina
when Christian Ponder was injured in the second quarter.
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...
as the quarterback for the Seminoles
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
of Florida State University
Florida State University
The Florida State University is a space-grant and sea-grant public university located in Tallahassee, Florida, United States. It is a comprehensive doctoral research university with medical programs and significant research activity as determined by the Carnegie Foundation...
. He took over the position from Christian Ponder
Christian Ponder
Christian Ponder is an American football quarterback for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Vikings with the twelfth overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft, and signed with them on July 31, 2011, shortly after the 2011 NFL lockout ended...
late in the 2009 season
2009 Florida State Seminoles football team
The 2009 Florida State Seminoles football team represented Florida State University during the 2009 college football season. The Seminoles were led by 34th year head coach Bobby Bowden...
due to Ponder's shoulder injury.
Early life
Manuel was born in Virginia Beach, VirginiaVirginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. He attended Bayside High School
Bayside High School (Virginia Beach, Virginia)
Bayside High School is a secondary school located in Virginia Beach, Virginia.The school's remarkable feature is the Health Sciences Academy; one of several magnet programs in Virginia Beach. Students throughout the city interested in a health sciences education can apply...
, where he played 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....
. In 2004, as a freshman, he started at quarterback and threw for 589 yards and seven touchdown
Touchdown
A touchdown is a means of scoring in American and Canadian football. Whether running, passing, returning a kickoff or punt, or recovering a turnover, a team scores a touchdown by advancing the ball into the opponent's end zone.-Description:...
s, as well as rushing for 119 yards and 1 touchdown. As a sophomore, he recorded 1,332 passing yards and 8 touchdowns as well as 276 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns. As a junior, Manuel threw for 1,973 yards and 15 touchdowns while rushing for 345 yards and 5 touchdowns. In 2007, as a senior, Manuel passed for 1,859 yards, 18 touchdowns and rushed for 541 yards. He was considered a five-star recruit by Scout, a four star recruit by Rivals and both sites, as well as Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
, listed him the second best quarterback. An All-American quarterback in high school, Manuel was recruited by then FSU Offensive Coordinator Jimbo Fisher
Jimbo Fisher
John James "Jimbo" Fisher is an American college football coach and former player. He is currently head coach at Florida State University....
, now the head coach.
Freshman season
Manuel took over for an injured Christian Ponder as the 4-5 SeminolesFlorida State Seminoles football
The Florida State Seminoles football team represents Florida State University in college football. The Florida State Seminoles compete in NCAA Division I-FBS and are members of the Atlantic Division of the Atlantic Coast Conference...
were in danger of finishing with a losing record for the first time since Bobby Bowden
Bobby Bowden
Robert Cleckler "Bobby" Bowden is a retired college football coach. He coached the Florida State Seminoles football team from the 1976 to 2009 seasons...
took over the program. His first start was an away game against Wake Forest. He completed 15-20 for 220 yards with one touchdown, leading the seminoles to a 41-28 win over Wake Forest, who at the time had won 3 games in a row against Florida State. Manuel struggled in his 2nd game against Maryland but still managed to pull out a much needed win making FSU bowl eligible. Manuel's struggles continued against the dominating Florida Gators
Florida Gators football
The Florida Gators football team represents the University of Florida in the sport of American football. The Florida Gators compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletics Association and the Eastern Division of the Southeastern Conference...
and was never able to get into a rhythm as Florida State lost 37-10.
Gator Bowl
Florida State entered the Gator Bowl2010 Gator Bowl
The 2010 Gator Bowl game was a post-season college football bowl game between the Florida State University Seminoles from the ACC, and the West Virginia University Mountaineers representing the Big East, and was played on Friday, January 1, 2010, at Jacksonville Municipal Stadium in Jacksonville,...
6-6 and in serious danger of letting legendary coach Bobby Bowden leave with a losing record. Manuel led Florida State to a 33-21 victory and won the Gator Bowl MVP honors.
Sophomore season
Manuel started twice in the 2010 season for Christian Ponder, who battled a nagging forearm injury. In his first start against Clemson, he picked up 71 yards on 15 carries. He also led the Seminoles to a victory in the 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl
The 2010 Chick-fil-A Bowl is the forty-third edition of the college football bowl game, and was played at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. It was played Friday, December 31, 2010 at 7:30 EST, and featured the #23 Florida State Seminoles versus the #19 South Carolina Gamecocks.-South...
against South Carolina
2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team
The 2010 South Carolina Gamecocks football team represented the University of South Carolina in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season. The team's head football coach was Steve Spurrier, who was in his sixth season at USC...
when Christian Ponder was injured in the second quarter.