Former ACU standout scores first NFL touchdown!

Danieal Manning was two yards from his first NFL touchdown on Sunday. He returned an interception against Jacksonville on the third play of the game 53 yards, but was tripped up by lineman in a cluster near the goal line. Manning beat his fists into the grass after the play was over knowing he was just a few feet from his first NFL touchdown.

Four days later, he returned the opening kickoff (pictured celebrating courtesy of CBS Sportsline.com) in a crucial game against the Saints with playoff implications. He returned the kick 83 yards for the Bears who are fighting to stay atop the NFC North Division. Manning, who had significant playing time in his first two years with the Bears at free safety, has had to adjust to a different role as the nickel back. The move gave him less playing time on the defensive end. However, with return phenom Devin Hester struggling this season in kickoff returns, Manning has stepped in and was averaging 28.0 yards per kick return this season entering Thursday night, which is good for 3rd in the NFL.

Before Thursday, the last time Manning saw the endzone in a football game was Sept. 17, 2005 at our own Shotwell Stadium when he returned a punt 57 yards for a score against Texas A&M-Commerce. The Wildcats went on to win that game 27-18. Manning played three seasons (foregoing his senior season) for ACU before the Bears drafted him as the 42nd overall pick in the 2006 NFL draft