Mario’s tough road

WGH graduate expected to be picked in first round

By MIKE MCLAIN Tribune Chronicle
INDIANAPOLIS — From the moment Mario Manningham entered the football scene as a sophomore at Warren G. Harding High School, his destiny was to play in the National Football League.

There wasn’t a defensive back in high school who could deal with his moves and explosive speed as a receiver for the Raiders. Manningham was also a better-than-average defensive back, and opponents dared not let him get his hands on the ball returning a punt or kickoff.

Having decided to leave the University of Michigan with one year of eligibility remaining, Manningham’s road to the NFL will occur on Saturday, April 26, when his name is expected to be announced sometime during the first round of the draft. It wasn’t any easy decision to leave Michigan, but the changes that will accompany Rich Rodriguez’s arrival as coach made it the right time for him to move on.

‘‘I discussed it with my family and prayed over it,’’ Manningham said Friday during a break at the NFL combine at the RCA Dome.

Rodriguez, who formerly coached at West Virginia University, replaced Lloyd Carr, who retired at the end of last season. Manningham wasn’t worried about learning the spread offense that Rodriguez will install, but he admitted to being concerned about the offense because of the decision by quarterback Ryan Mallett, who would have replaced Chad Henne, to transfer to Arkansas.

Carr came under heavy criticism from Michigan alumni in recent seasons, primarily because of his inability to defeat Ohio State coach Jim Tressel. There were reports that Carr and Manningham didn’t always see eye to eye, but Manningham talked well of his former coach.

‘‘That’s a hard question,’’ Manningham replied when asked if he would have returned to school if Carr had stayed. ‘‘It could have gone either way with coach Carr. Everybody knows how important coach Carr is to his team. He wants us to get our degree. It was kind of hard to leave without getting my degree, but I’m going to go back and get it.’’

Manningham became a big part of the Wolverines offense from the time he stepped on the practice field as a true freshman in 2005. He played in 12 games (three starts) and finished with 433 yards and six touchdowns on 27 receptions. He missed time during his junior year because of a torn meniscus and torn medial collateral ligament, but he managed to play in 10 games and accumulate 703 yards and nine touchdowns.

Manningham saved his best for last. In 2007 he caught 67 passes for 1,096 yards and 11 touchdowns. He had a stretch of six consecutive games in which he exceeded 100 yards in receptions.

There were some memorable games in Manningham’s Michigan career. He caught three touchdown passes in the first half of a win over Notre Dame in 2006. He opened eyes as a freshman with a 10-yard touchdown reception with one second to play to give the Wolverines a win over Penn State.

‘‘It was a great catch and we won game, but my coach was still like, ‘you ran a bad route, but you still caught the ball,’ ’’ Manningham said. ‘‘I’m still looking at it like it’s another catch. I couldn’t believe I caught it and won the game with one second.’’

Unlike many of the prospects that are marched into the media room at the combine, Manningham isn’t a big talker. He measures his words carefully and doesn’t say more than what needs to be said.

He’s less reserved on the field. When the moment is big and the spotlight is turned on, Manningham has no problem speaking loudly with his actions.

‘‘I want to be a clutch player,’’ he said. ‘‘I want for everybody to look to me when it’s time for a big play to be called. I want the ball and I want the pressure.’’

Henne, who’s at the combine, enjoyed having Manningham’s big-play skills on the field. Manningham’s 26 career touchdowns made life easier for the entire offense.

‘‘Mario is very fast and he makes big plays,’’ Henne said. ‘‘He’s an overall player. He has all the technique and is a great, physical talent.’’

Manningham did bring out a few laughs from reporters when he talked about his relationship with former Harding coach Thom McDaniels. Manningham was asked what he thinks it would be like to play for McDaniels’ son Josh, who’s the New England Patriots offensive coordinator.

‘‘If he’s anything like his dad, it shouldn’t be a piece of cake,’’ he said.

Manningham did credit McDaniels for helping him become the player he is today.

‘‘Coach ‘McD’ is down to earth,’’ he said. ‘‘He pushed me to the edge.’’

Perhaps to the edge of NFL stardom.

mmclain@tribune-chronicle.com