Dontae Manning looking for breakout season in fourth year at Oregon
Since before he began his college career, Dontae Manning, a cornerback for the Oregon Ducks, has had big things expected of him. He expects the same things of himself and recognizes that his past two seasons haven’t cut it.
“I felt like I left a lot of plays out there that I could have made for my teammates and for this defense,” he said.
In the class of 2020, Manning was a 5-star recruit for the Ducks and was the fourth-best cornerback recruit in the country according to 247Sports. To this day, he is still the highest-rated CB to ever sign at Oregon. Unfortunately, he was kept off the field that year for what would’ve been his freshman season. Manning’s seasons in 2021 and 2022 weren’t bad, but not at the level of someone who was previously expected to be a first-round draft pick.
Despite not yet reaching the heights we were promised, Manning is optimistic and excited for the 2023 season. He has been working hard this spring to develop what he recognizes as the weaker parts of his game.
“Working on my ball skills, using my length more, and more physicality just for myself, but just being able to use my tools and create a bigger tool bag,” he said.
One reason for fans to be optimistic is that 2023 will be the first time Manning plays under a defensive system that he already knows. This will be Manning’s fourth season as a Duck, but it will be his first playing with the same head coach and defensive coordinator two years in a row, which is something he thinks he will benefit from.
“From year one to year two is massive,” Manning said. “Year one was like a trial run. We know the system, we know the coaches, and we know what we’re supposed to do with the technique. So then it’s just adding pieces to it, now adding pieces for me to go to that next level.”
This offseason, Oregon lost star cornerback Christian Gonzalez — who is projected to be taken in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday. Additionally, former 4-star corner Jalil Tucker announced on April 15th that he is leaving Eugenes and entering the transfer portal.
Following both of these losses, the Ducks need a cornerback who is capable of locking down the elite receivers Oregon will face in 2023. Entering 2023, there is no reason it can’t be Manning that steps up to the occasion. With his talent, humility, and the benefit of a complete season under Lanning’s system, he can still be an elite corner, and the Ducks will need him to be.
