Utah Blaze Players
Utah Blaze Coaches & Operations

7 - Manuel Wright

HEIGHT: 6-6
WEIGHT: 336
POSITION: OL/DL
BORN: 4/13/84
HOMETOWN: Compton, CA
COLLEGE: USC
AFL SEASON: Rookie

PROFESSIONAL: 2009: Wright played in 11 games with the Stockton Lightening of af2 where he tallied 9.5 total tackles, two sacks and one forced fumble. 2007: He was briefly signed to the Buffalo Bills and played for the New York Giants of he NFL, where he earned a Super Bowl ring with the Giants in Super Bowl XLII. 2005-06: Wright was originally drafted and spent time with the Miami Dolphins of the NFL.

COLLEGE: Wright originally signed with USC in 2002 but did not qualify for admission, so he attended Long Beach City College that season as a part-time student. However, he did not play football there. In 2003, Wright appeared in nine games during the season, where he recorded eight tackles, including two for losses and three pass breakups. His first career sack came against Michigan in the Rose Bowl. In 2004, he played in 11 games including two starts. He tallied 23 tackles, including six for losses, two pass breakups. Wright earned an All-Pac-10 honorable mention for his efforts.

PERSONAL: Wright earned various team, local and national honors as a member of the football team at Long Beach Polytechnic High School in Long Beach, Calif. As a junior in 2000, Wright recorded 95 total tackles and with 25 sacks. As a senior, Wright was the team's defensive MVP after recording 142 tackles (60 solo), 16 sacks, four fumble recoveries, three forced fumbles, 20 deflections and an interception.