Manny Wilkins

Last updated

Manny Wilkins
Manny Wilkins 18 Packers training camp 2019.jpg
Wilkins with the Green Bay Packers in 2019
No. 5 – St. Louis Battlehawks
Position: Quarterback
Personal information
Born: (1995-11-05) November 5, 1995 (age 29)
Novato, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:193 lb (88 kg)
Career information
High school: Novato (CA) San Marin
College: Arizona State
NFL draft: 2019: undrafted
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Injured reserve

Manny Wilkins Jr. (born November 5, 1995) is an American professional football quarterback for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for Arizona State. After going undrafted in the 2019 NFL draft, Wilkins signed with the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL), but was released the following year, in 2020. After a three-year hiatus, in 2023, Wilkins was picked up by the St. Louis Battlehawks, then of the XFL, now of the UFL, where he has continued to play as starting quarterback.

Contents

Early life

When Wilkins was 16, he was identified as a talented prospect. [1]

Wilkins's father, Manny Wilkins Sr., died when Manny was 10 years old in 2006. Wilkins relocated to Texas with his mother in 2008, where he played football at Elkins High School. He relocated back to California to live with his aunt and uncle and started at quarterback while attending San Marin High School in Novato, California.[ citation needed ]

College career

Wilkins came to Arizona State as one of the most prolific quarterback prospects in Arizona State history. [2] After redshirting his first season, and only appearing in three games in his redshirt freshman campaign, Wilkins won the starting quarterback position, beating out fellow highly touted prospect, Brady White. [3] [4]

In 2015, Wilkins saw limited game action, Wilkins did not throw a pass, but had 7 rushing attempts for 55 yards. [5]

As a sophomore, Wilkins started 10 games beating out Brady White for the starting job in training camp. Wilkins finished the season with 197 completions for 311 attempts for 2329 yards and 12 touchdowns with 9 interceptions. Wilkins also had 128 rushing attempts for 246 yards and 5 touchdowns.[ citation needed ]

As a junior, Wilkins started all 13 games and had 260 completions on 410 attempts for 3270 yards and 20 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. Wilkins rushed on 138 attempts for 282 yards and 7 touchdowns.[ citation needed ]

As a senior, Wilkins started all 13 games and had 247 completions and 393 attempts. He threw for 3025 yards for 20 touchdowns and 6 interceptions. Wilkins also rushed on 112 attempts for 452 yards and 8 touchdowns.[ citation needed ]

Statistics

SeasonGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsAvgTDINTRtgAttYdsAvgTD
Arizona State Sun Devils
2014 10Redshirted Redshirt.svg
2015 407557.90
2016 10104–619731163.32,3297.5129133.21282461.95
2017 13137–626041063.43,2708.0208142.61382822.07
2018 13137–624749462.83,0257.7206141.21124524.08
Career 413618−187041,11463.28,6247.75223139.53851,0352.720

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump
6 ft 2 in
(1.88 m)
193 lb
(88 kg)
32+14 in
(0.82 m)
9+58 in
(0.24 m)
4.84 s1.69 s2.76 s33.0 in
(0.84 m)
9 ft 11 in
(3.02 m)
All values from Pro Day [6]

Green Bay Packers

Wilkins signed with the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent on May 3, 2019. [7] He was waived on August 31, 2019, and was signed to the practice squad the next day. [8] [9] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Packers on January 21, 2020. [10]

He was released by the Packers on April 27, 2020. [11]

St. Louis Battlehawks

On February 12, 2023, Wilkins signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks, then of the XFL. [12] He re-signed with the team on February 8, 2024. [13] Wilkins spent the 2024 season as the second string quarterback behind veteran starter AJ McCarron. He saw action in five games that year, including two as starting quarterback following an injury to McCarron.

On December 20, 2024, Wilkins re-signed with the Battlehawks, now of the UFL. [14] Wilkins began the 2025 season as the starting quarterback until suffering a season-ending Achilles heel injury in Week 4. [15]

Career statistics

YearTeamLeagueGamesPassingRushing
GPGSRecordCmpAttPctYdsY/ATDIntRtgAttYdsAvgTD
2023 STL XFL Did not play
2024 STL UFL 521–1275054.03056.11354.2241415.93
2025 STL 442–2456965.24987.21373.2221366.22
Career 963–37211960.58036.72665.2462776.05

References

  1. Abend, Harold (June 2, 2012). "Wilkins emerges as big-time talent". ESPN . Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  2. Manny Wilkins. "Manny Wilkins – 2014 Football Roster – TheSunDevils.com | Arizona State University Athletics". TheSunDevils.com. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  3. "Todd Graham: Manny Wilkins will be ASU's starting QB vs. NAU". Arizonasports.com. September 2, 2016. Retrieved June 14, 2017.
  4. Miller, Ted (September 3, 2016). "Manny Wilkins to start at quarterback for Arizona State". ESPN . Retrieved September 26, 2016.
  5. "Manny Wilkins stats". ESPN. Retrieved May 2, 2018.
  6. "Manny Wilkins College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 27, 2025.
  7. "Packers sign 11 rookie free agents". Packers.com. May 3, 2019. Archived from the original on May 4, 2019. Retrieved May 4, 2019.
  8. "Packers announce roster moves". Packers.com. August 31, 2019.
  9. "Packers sign 10 players to practice squad". Packers.com. September 1, 2019.
  10. "Packers sign 10 free agents". Packers.com. January 21, 2020.
  11. "Packers release QB Manny Wilkins". packers.com. Retrieved April 27, 2020.
  12. Rifino, Patrick. "Battlehawks Add Former Arizona State QB Manny Wilkins, Bringing Roster to 51". xflnewshub.com. Retrieved February 12, 2023.
  13. "UFL Player Transactions, Thursday February 8, 2024". UFLBoard.com. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 9, 2024.
  14. Larsen, James. "St. Louis Battlehawks Re-Sign Manny Wilkins & Dohnovan West". PFN newsroom. Retrieved April 1, 2025.
  15. Overbey, Steve (April 21, 2025). "Battlehawks QB Manny Wilkins out for season; WR Hakeem Butler set to return on Saturday". St. Louis Post-Dispatch . Retrieved April 23, 2025.