Time at Kentucky helped prepare Tashawn Manning for jump to NFL

Last season, Kentucky jumped into the transfer portal and added 10 players to the roster. Auburn guard Tashawn Manning arrived in Lexington for the spring semester and immediately grabbed a starting spot at right guard.

The Central Florida native spent his super senior season with the Wildcats starting 12 games and playing over 700 snaps under offensive coordinator Rich Scangarello and offensive line coach Zach Yenser. Manning believes that short time spent in Lexington help prepare him for his jump to pro football.

“They got me ready for the situation that I’m in right now,” Manning told reporters about Kentucky at the NFL Scouting Combine on Saturday morning. “Talking to media, preparing on the field, talking to coaches, staying in the film room, and just being an overall prepared player to perform on the next level.”

“Just looking for the better opportunity to go out there and show what I can do on the field. I felt like Kentucky was that opportunity I needed to put myself in a situation that I’m in now.”

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After participating in the NFLPA Bowl during the pre-draft process, Manning used a strong performance to earn an invite to Indianapolis for the combine. There the offensive guard is meeting with teams and trying to solidify himself as a Day 3 selection. Manning is a power player at guard that can move defenders at the point of attack and anchor against power bull rushers in pass protection. Manning was hoping to show off some of that play strength in Indianapolis.

“Show I got power and I belong here,” Manning said on his goals for the combine. “I’ve gone up against some great competition along my career and just to show that I belong in this position and that I can do great things on the field.”

It certainly helps that Kentucky got the offensive line prospect ready for the next level by having Manning play in a pro-style scheme. Both Scangarello and Yenser came to Lexington directly from the San Francisco 49ers. Being able to play in that type of scheme has given Manning an early advantage.

“Kentucky has the pro-style offense which is what I was looking for coming out of the transfer portal,” Manning said. “I feel like they had all the tools I needed to get me ready for the next level.”

Now Tashawn Manning will look to display those traits and scheme knowledge at a rookie minicamp and OTAs once a team calls his name on the last weekend in April.

Tashawn Manning records promising athletic score

When digging into Tashawn Manning as a player and prospect, versatility as a blocker is a question mark. The bruising blocker seems better playing downhill and could have some agility concerns in a pro outside zone scheme.

However, the athletic testing shows that there could be a higher ceiling for the SEC product. Let’s take at the data recorded in Indianapolis on Sunday.

• Height: 6-3
• Weight: 327
• Arm Length: 34 1/2
• Hand: 9 3/4
• 40-yard dash: 5.34
• 10-yard split: 1.85
• Vertical: 27.5
• Broad Jump: 8’6″

At this point, Manning has put together a top-10 athletic profile in this year’s draft class. That could find the Kentucky right guard a home on Day 3.