This is the first in a series of five articles featuring North Penn scholarship recipients who were honored at a special press conference on Wednesday, Nov. 19.
TOWAMENCIN - Brandon McManus estimates he could fill North Penn High School’s audion with all the handwritten letters he’s received from Temple’s coaches during a busy recruiting season.
“Every day I got five or six of them,” North Penn’s star kicker said.
That personal touch made all the difference in the world.
McManus recently made a verbal commitment to accept a football scholarship to Temple University. He chose the Philadelphia school from an impressive final list that included the University of Pittsburgh, Northwestern, Purdue and Penn State.
“Just their constant showing of how much they wanted me – that put me over the edge in wanting to go there,” McManus said. “Coach Golden and all the coaches made me feel at home, and they will give me a chance when I come in as a freshman to compete for the starting job.”
McManus found his way onto Temple’s wish list after a strong showing at Penn State’s Kicking Camp last summer.
“One of the coaches just went crazy about his leg – just thought he had a monster leg,” North Penn coach Dick Beck said. “They called Al Golden at Temple and said, ‘You have to see this kid at North Penn.’
“They called me up, and they wanted him to come down immediately. When he went down, they offered him (a scholarship) on the spot. They actually took away a scholarship they had saved for a running back to bring in a kicker. It’s very rare in college that they scholarship a kicker. Usually they’ll bring in walk-ins and scholarship them after they’ve been on campus. Brandon is a special player.”
He’s also a special student.
McManus will major in pre-med with his sights set on becoming an orthopedic surgeon, although that dream may have to be put on hold if he has an opportunity to play in the NFL.
“That’s my main goal,” he said. “If not, that’s where pre-med comes in. If I try out for the NFL, I can wait two years to go into medical school. They gave me leniency.”
McManus hasn’t had to kick very many field goals in a season that has seen the Knights roll to one big win after another, but last year, he nailed a 55-yard field goal, eclipsing the previous mark of Neshaminy’s Kevin Kelly and putting his name in the SOL record books.
“His three field goals were the difference in our Liberty game,” said Beck of the Knights’ 23-15 early-season win. “Last week (against Abington) with the score 14-7, I actually ran the ball on third-and-18 just to get us in field goal range so he could try a 47-yarder.”
McManus narrowly missed wide but, according to Beck, had enough distance to clear the uprights at 57 yards
“It kind of changes my play calling at times,” the Knights’ coach said. “I don’t have to get a first down to get points in certain situations.”
Kicking field goals is just a small part of McManus’ game. His kickoffs routinely sail into (or out of) the end zone for touchbacks, and his punts give the Knights a decided advantage when it comes to field position.
“A lot of the reason we have been so stingy defensively is because people have to go 80 yards to score against us, and it’s tough for any team to go the length of the field if you don’t give up the big play,” Beck said. “He’s burying them deep. It’s tough for teams to put together drives that go 80 yards four or five times a game.”
It was the punting of McManus, according to his coach, that was the difference in the Knights’ 14-7 win over St. Joe’s Prep in a game that was played in a steady downpour early in the season.
“That game was almost entirely field position,” Beck said. “It’s one of those hidden yardage totals people don’t see.”
McManus has dreamed of playing football at the collegiate since he gave up soccer to play football when he was a freshman and immediately began nailing field goals in the 40-plus yard range at practice.
“Once I started kicking, I fell in love with it,” McManus said. “(Playing in college) was going to be my goal.”
Playing close to home is an extra perk for McManus.
“My mom and dad and grandparents always come to my games,” he said. “Being able to play at Temple in an NFL stadium is a great fit for me, and they can continue to watch my career.”
For now, Beck is hoping McManus has a couple more big kicks left in his monster leg.
“Unfortunately, he hasn’t ha d a chance to kick a lot of field goals,” the Knights’ coach said. “Hopefully (if) we move along, he’ll have more opportunities.”
That opportunity could come on Friday night when top-ranked North Penn will host Downingtown West in a district semifinal contest at 7:30 p.m.
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