Manny Rojas

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Position:
LB
Height:
6-0
Weight:
220
Prev School:
West Allegheny
Hometown:
Oakdale, Pa.

One of the Flames' senior team captains … leader on the defensive side of the field … will be the foundation of the linebacking corps this year … brings game experience to the position … strong tackler inside the box … tough competitor who is not afraid of contact … enters the season ranked seventh in the Big South Conference with 272 career tackles and needs just 37 more tackles to become the Big South's all-time leader in career tackles … Big South preseason all-conference honoree … named to the I-AA.org Big South Preseason first-team all-conference team.

2005 (r-Jr.): Big South second-team all-conference … started all 11 games … led the team with a career-high 102 tackles … finished with seven or more tackles in all but one game … ranked fifth overall in the conference in tackles (9.3 per conference game) … ranked 53^rd in the country in tackles per game (6.82) … also finished the season ranked tied for 73^rd in the country in tackles for a loss (1.09) … ranked fourth in the conference in tackles for a loss (12 TFL, 1.09 per game) … tied for third in the conference with two fumble recoveries … averaged 10.0 tackles per game against Big South Conference opponents … finished four-straight games with 10 or more tackles … nine tackles in the Flames' season opener against Concord (9/3) … eight tackles at Connecticut (9/10), including three solo stops … seven tackles against 16^th-ranked William & Mary, including three solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss … tied a career best with 13 tackles against VMI (10/1), including a career-best 10 assisted stops … tied a career high with 13 tackles against Chattanooga (10/8) and against Towson (10/15), including nine solo stops against Towson … 10 tackles against 14^th-ranked Coastal Carolina (10/22) … nine tackles against conference foe Gardner-Webb (10/29) … eight tackles against Charleston Southern (11/12), including seven solo stops and a pass breakup … seven tackles, two forced fumbles, a quarterback hurry and a blocked kick in the Flames' season finale at Norfolk State (11/19).

2004 (r-So.): Saw playing time in 11 games, starting 10 contests … second on the team and sixth overall in the Big South Conference with 89 tackles … ranked second on the team with six tackles for a loss … also added two interceptions and three quarterback hurries … eight tackles, including seven assisted stops against West Virginia Tech (9/4) … nine tackles, including four solo tackles at Kent State (9/11) … seven tackles and an interception with a 15-yard return against 24^th-ranked Lehigh (9/18) … finished with a season-best 13 tackles, including eight assisted tackles against Youngstown State (9/25) … nine tackles and two quarterback hurries against Gardner-Webb (10/2) … was named Big South Defensive Player of the Week after the Gardner-Webb game … 10 tackles, all assisted, against 18^th-ranked William & Mary (10/9) … nine stops, including seven assisted tackles at Coastal Carolina (10/23) and against Charleston Southern (10/30) … nine tackles, including six assisted tackles and an interception with a 14-yard return against Elon (11/20).

2003 (r-Fr.): Started all 12 games … finished second on the team with 81 tackles … 33 solo stops and 48 assisted tackles … ranked tied for third on the team with four pass breakups … also added two forced fumbles, a blocked kick, two interceptions, four tackles for a loss and a quarterback sack … four tackles, including three solo stops and a quarterback sack in his first collegiate game at James Madison (8/30) … recorded a season-high 13 tackles, including seven assisted tackles, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup at Toledo (9/6) … eight tackles and a pass breakup at Bowling Green (9/13) … two tackles and a 36-yard interception return against Kentucky Wesleyan (9/20) … 10 tackles, including seven assisted stops at Gardner-Webb (10/11) … 12 tackles, including seven solo tackles and 1.5 tackles for a loss at East Tennessee State (10/18) … five tackles and an interception return for 14 yards at Charleston Southern (11/1) … nine tackles, including seven assisted stops against Coastal Carolina (11/15) … six stops against Hofstra (11/22).

2002 (Fr.): Redshirted.

Prep: Graduated from West Allegheny High School … three-year starter … first-team all-conference … first-team all-state … led his team to a AAA state championship … Metro Index Scouting Service Top 50 of Western Pennsylvania … "Fabulous 22" Pittsburgh Post Gazette honoree … a member of the Pennsylvania Big 33 team who defeated Ohio in July of 2002.

Personal: Son of Manny, Sr. and Kimberly Rojas … birthday is on July 17 … majoring in advertising … would like to pursue a career in marketing after graduation.