From Overlooked to Overpowering: Brayden Manley’s Path to the ACC

Brayden Manley has always been a dog. He’s carried that mentality from the backyard football games in Craven County to the trenches of high school ball at West Craven, through a dominant two-year stretch at Mercer, and now into the Atlantic Coast Conference, where he’s suiting up for Georgia Tech.

At 6-foot-2, 245 pounds, Manley is built for disruption. He made his name as a force on the defensive line at Mercer, racking up 14 sacks, 50 tackles, and three forced fumbles in just two seasons. Now, he’s bringing that same relentless energy to the Yellow Jackets, ready to prove he belongs on the biggest stage.

"All I Ever Wanted to Do"

Manley’s love for the game started early. Football wasn’t just a sport in Craven County—it was the culture.

“From a pretty young age, it was all I wanted to do,” Manley said. “That’s what everybody played outside. That’s what my family did. It’s just what I grew up around.”

That environment molded him. West Craven, alongside nearby New Bern and Havelock, has long been a breeding ground for elite football talent. The community embraced Manley, and he embraced them right back.

“The support from my community was huge,” he said. “Being able to go to my teammates’ houses, stay the night, get food—just little things like that—it showed how much love was there.”

Manley made sure to return that love by dominating on the field. He was a menace for opposing offenses, earning Defensive Player of the Year honors in his conference. But despite his production, the recruiting world didn’t take much notice.

The Chip on His Shoulder

“I was under-recruited, no doubt,” Manley admitted.

His high school offer list included Ivy League and service academy programs like Dartmouth, Army, Navy, and Air Force. Mercer came in late, but it became his home.

“If I didn’t get that Mercer offer, I don’t know where I would have been,” he said.

That feeling of being overlooked never left. Manley carried that chip into Mercer, where he didn’t just want to prove people wrong—he wanted to prove himself right.

“I came to Mercer with a plan,” he said. “I was telling everybody from day one, ‘I’m here for two years, then I’m leaving.’”

And he backed it up.

Making an Immediate Impact

Manley wasted no time making his presence felt. Mercer made the FCS Playoffs in back-to-back seasons, a milestone for a program that only reinstated football in 2013. His impact on the defense helped push Mercer to its best season since its return.

As a freshman, he played in 12 games, tallying 12 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles. His performance earned him a spot on the Southern Conference All-Freshman Team.

But his sophomore campaign cemented his dominance. Manley led the conference in sacks (9.5) and totaled 38 tackles, two fumble recoveries, and 10 quarterback hurries. His breakout year earned him Southern Conference Defensive Player of the Year honors, along with a spot on the NCAA Division I FCS Second-Team All-America list.

Mercer became one of the top defensive programs in the Southern Conference, and Manley was the heartbeat of that unit.

From Overlooked to ACC-Bound

With two dominant years under his belt, the offers that weren’t there in high school came flooding in through the transfer portal. This time, he had his pick of Power Five programs.

“My phone was blowing up,” Manley said. “I was catching flights five days straight, in a new city every day.”

Schools like Louisville, Virginia, Virginia Tech, and North Carolina all wanted him. And yes—ECU came calling.

“That hometown school hit me up,” he said. “But they should’ve got me out of high school, you know how that goes.”

In the end, Georgia Tech felt most like home.

“I sat down with Coach Key, and he’s a real upfront, direct dude,” Manley said. “Kind of crazy. But I like that little bit of crazy. That ‘dark horse’ mentality. I like it.”

Built to Dominate

At Georgia Tech, Manley is already making his presence felt. He’s expected to be in the defensive line rotation immediately and is grinding to earn his spot as a starter.

“I ain’t gonna say I’m starting right now, ‘cause nothing is guaranteed,” he said. “You gotta earn it. But I’m working with the ones.”

Manley joins a defensive front that features JJ Vandenberg, a 6’5”, 315-pound nose tackle from South Africa, along with former Clemson lineman AJ Hoffler and high-motor edge rusher Jamon Dumas-Johnson.

He’s got high expectations for himself in Year 1 in the ACC.

“I want double-digit sacks,” he said. “I want Defensive Player of the Year. I’m trying to win the ACC.”

A Message to the Next Generation

Manley has already made history, going from West Craven to Power Five football, but his journey is bigger than just himself.

He keeps close ties with the kids in Craven County, making sure they see what’s possible.

“I talk to those West Craven boys all the time,” Manley said. “I want them to know if I can do it, they can do it too.”

His message to young athletes is simple:

“Don’t get caught up in what everybody else is doing. Put your head down and work. The rest will take care of itself.”

And as he steps into the ACC spotlight, Brayden Manley is ready to work. Ready to dominate. Ready to eat.