Seeing a high school player listed at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds piques the interest of anyone, especially the Washington Huskies coaching staff, which have made sure to schedule a visit with Demetri Manning. There are very few players at any level of football with that hulking size.
Manning, a product of nearby Bellevue High School, possesses an 83-inch wingspan which is half an inch longer than New York Jets first-round pick Olu Fashanu. His rare size immediately makes coaches salivate over the type of player they can mold him into.
Offensive coordinator and offensive line coach Brennan Carroll is no exception, as his track record with offensive linemen such as Jordan Morgan speaks for itself.
Manning is a fascinating prospect mainly due to the raw talent that surrounds his gigantic frame. In a fully run-based offense, Manning has very little experience as pass blocker which will limit his ability to make an impact in college in first few years.
Had a great visit at the University of Washington today with @KalenDeBoer @GrubbRyan @scotthuffUW
@TFordFSP @BrandonHuffman @UsOLIANxIata @gofordsports #GoDawg pic.twitter.com/I3ZIGkrtiN— Demetri Manning (@Demetri_manning) June 8, 2023
He’s a tricky player to project, as some of the 16 teams who have offered him could feel he is a better guard, but it’s rare to see someone of his height play on the inside due to the potential obstruction of the quarterback’s line of sight. This will come into play at Washington due to the smaller stature of quarterback of the future Demond Williams.
However, Manning’s frame and movement skills project well to tackle in a vacuum. There will be a steep learning curve for Manning as it’s unlikely he has ever been asked to take vertical sets or climb the pass rush arc against talented rushers.
His frame is not all positives though, as some time in a college weight room should reduce bad weight in his lower half and add good weight in his upper half, which could do wonders for his profile. If he is listed at 340, it should not be out of the realm of possibility that he ends up playing around 325 pounds to maximize his potential athleticism.
As a run blocker, Manning can get out and run, but he has a tendency to lose steam as reps get drawn out, something that will likely improve going forward. This creates optimism that he could become a serviceable and potentially above-average pass blocker in the future, though it may never be his strength. The strength he possesses is enhanced due to the smaller size of players he is up against, but his bulldozing mentality will easily translate to the college level.
As a three-star prospect, Manning is not going to be expected to come in and be an instant contributor, which will be ideal for him. Schools outside of Washington interested in him include Miami and Oregon, two schools with coaching staffs with excellent track records along the offensive line.
This signals that Manning possesses a significant amount of potential, but also that teams view him as a massive project. If Washington can land him during this recruiting cycle, it could be an investment that pays major dividends in later years.