SoCon defensive player of the year joining the Yellow Jackets

Georgia Tech's Ramblin' Wreck leads the band, cheerleaders, Buzz, players, and coaches walk down Yellow Jacket Alley prior to an NCAA college football game between Georgia Tech and North Carolina State at Bobby Dodd Stadium, Thursday, November 21, 2024, in Atlanta. (Hyosub Shin / AJC)

By Chad Bishop

Dec 24, 2024

Georgia Tech continued to add to its 2025 roster with the addition of one of the best players out of the FCS.

Brayden Manley, a 6-foot-2, 245-pound defensive end and reigning Southern Conference defensive player of the year, announced Sunday on X, formerly Twitter, that he plans to transfer to Tech for the ‘25 season. Manley played two seasons with the Mercer Bears and was a second team American Football Coaches Association All-American pick this past season.

Originally from Vanceboro, North Carolina, and a graduate of West Craven High School, Manley made 38 tackles — 28 of which were for a loss — and 9.5 sacks. He was also credited with 10 quarterback hurries.

Manley also had 5.5 tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks as a freshman in 2023.

Manley joins long snapper Luke Whiting (Florida Atlantic), linebackers Melvin Jordan IV (Oregon State) and Cayden Spaulding (Tennessee Tech), Central Florida defensive tackle Matthew Alexander, tight ends Harry Lodge (Wake Forest) and J.T. Byrne (California), Florida International wide receivers Dean Patterson and Eric Rivers, South Carolina wide receiver Debron Gatling, North Carolina offensive lineman Andrew Rosinski, Alabama-Birmingham defensive back Kelvin Hill and Eastern Michigan defensive back Daiquan White as players who plan to transfer to Tech for the ‘25 season.

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