ASU

How ASU football's Manny Wilkins survived his childhood to become the Sun Devils' QB

Jeff Metcalfe
The Republic | azcentral.com
ASU's Manny Wilkins (5) warms up before the game at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on August 31, 2017.

Growing up wasn't easy for Emanuel Wilkins Jr., in part because of his namesake father, who was in prison for part of Manny's childhood then died of a drug overdose in 2006.

Manny was 10 and told at the time that his father's death was from an accident that led to him freezing to death in the snow.

"They didn't want me to know the person I was with all the time died from drugs," says Wilkins, who discovered the truth in eighth or ninth grade. "They told me when they felt I was mature enough. I always like to say I'm ahead of my age mentally."

That seems true now at 21 but wasn't always. 

Wilkins had repeated opportunity to fall off the tracks far enough to never find a way back. He was expelled from a high school in Texas as a freshman. He moved and moved and moved some more, nine times total between five states from fifth through 10th grades, never at the same school for more than three years. 

He lived on a concrete floor with his younger sister. And in the middle of nowhere in Colorado on his grandparents' ranch. Sometimes, understandably, it all seemed too much. "There's too much going on," Wilkins would think. "I"m too young to be dealing with the things I'm dealing with."

He adopted what he now recognizes as a victim's mindset, using his circumstances as an excuse to fail and not work hard. But there was always hope, too, provided by his immediate family and the right person at the right time like an elementary school counselor, who would not only talk with Wilkins but when he didn't want to talk shoot hoops or go for ice cream.

"Some days I'd be really emotional and cry," Wilkins says. "I'm an emotional guy. When I need to cry, I freaking cry. I still go through things in my everyday life that are difficult. I get stressed out sometimes with little things."

In the big picture, personally and athletically, Wilkins is at the best point of his life.

He is solidly entrenched as ASU's starting quarterback for a second season with one still remaining. Though playing under a third offensive coordinator in four years and in front of often shaky protection, Wilkins set a school record for consecutive completions (192) without an interception, before that streak ended Sept. 30

Wilkins is ranked among the top 25 nationally in passing efficiency, completion percentage, total offense, passing yards average and yards per attempt. He's quieted the preseason clamoring for Alabama transfer Blake Barnett to be the starter although ASU Hall of Fame quarterback Jeff Van Raaphorst believes increased competition forced Wilkins to raise his game.

"He's not only got new coordinators, he's had to fight for his job all the time," says Van Raaphorst, ASU long-time radio analyst. "He's had to grow up faster than most quarterbacks do because of so much change and learn not to get frustrated and control his emotions.

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"No one can accuse him of not being a quick study. He's had to learn a lot. He's tough and courageous. He's taken some hits, more than anyone I've seen other than Rudy Carpenter."

Another former ASU quarterback legend Andrew Walter, being inducted into ASU's Athletic Hall of Fame this week, sees the same toughness in the 6-foot 3 Wilkins.

"He's a hell of a player," Walter says. "I'm impressed with his gamesmanship and how he's handled himself under duress. If they protect him, they've got a shot."

Arizona State Sun Devils quarterback Manny Wilkins (5) signals to the fans after scoring a touchdown during a football game against the Oregon Ducks at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe on September 23, 2017.

Jake Plummer, who like Van Raaporst led ASU to the Rose Bowl, says he loves Wilkins' game. "He can make every throw you need from the pocket. He's got great ability to make guys miss and extend plays. He's got all the abilities that everyone is raving about from the kid in California (USC's Sam Darnold)."

Wilkins has no interest in criticizing play other than his own, which he did after two interceptions (one off a tip) and just 181 yards passing in a 34-24 loss to Stanford. He suffered what appeared to be a foot injury late in the first half but played the remainder of the game.

"I will always be hard on myself because I expect to be great," Wilkins says. "I expect to do amazing things." 

Even in the darkest moments of childhood, through the moments of doubt, he never stopped telling himself he would be successful. Wilkins did not always communicate well with his mother Natalie Ford -- "I was always in the dumps and super negative, which sucked for her. It hurts me to even think about it really" -- but now calls her his rock. 

Even his memories of his father are good, and he honors him with a photo in his locker and Wilkins Jr. on the back of his jersey.

"He was a great man," Wilkins says, reaching for the right words. "You wake up every morning and have a choice and sometimes he chose the wrong thing."

The choices Wilkins is making today place him on the path for a successful life. He will graduate in December in liberal studies and is in a two-year relationship with Evyn Murray. She is so important to him that he's even willing to overlook what he considers her greatest flaw, being a University of Arizona graduate.

Wilkins grew up around domestic violence and has become a strong advocate of sexual/violence prevention, working with women's support groups on campus. 

"The best part of being a part of something like that is the courage you bring to somebody else," Wilkins says. "I despise people who put their hands on and mistreat women. Something about it eats my heart up. It's just who I am. Evyn and I connected through that. I made myself vulnerable and told her who I was and what I'm about."

If Wilkins brags, it's not about touchdowns or 300-yard passing games. It's about making his teammates better so they have a chance to play in the NFL or about how Murray views him. "She's passionate about me not based off the fact I'm a Division I starting quarterback, but because of what I represent," he says. 

What Wilkins dreads most is the prospect of starting over again as a senior with a new coaching staff. ASU is 2-3, coming off a bye week going into Saturday's home game against No. 4 Washington. The Sun Devils' schedule is ranked No. 6 nationally (Sagarin) and won't get any easier until November. 

Wilkins says he's playing to win games and not to save coach Todd Graham's job but at this point those objectives are the same. "I've got a lot of belief and faith in him," Graham said. "He's our guy. We'll evaluate him in the next 7-8 weeks. It's the same way I'm evaluated -- wins and losses." Wilkins is 6-9 as a starter. 

His play is "night and day" better than in 2016, Wilkins says, primarily due to improved preparation and instruction from offensive coordinator Billy Napier. Plus he's healthy, something he wasn't for second half of last season when ASU lost its final six games to finish 5-7. 

"He's a guy who's been through adversity," Napier said. "A  challenge or difficult turn of events is just another day for him to some degree. He's developed some resiliency along the way. He's got some grit to him, competition comes naturally to him. He can mix and match will all different types of people. He's very intelligent. He has a good understanding of what's going on out there. He's not a quitter, He's a survivor."

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