Game log · Week-by-week
2026 season · 2 games
| Wk | Opp | TKL | SOLO | TFL | SACK | INT | PD | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wk 1 | W 28-17vs Sacramento State | 5 | 2 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Wk 1 | L 21-27vs San José State | 4 | 1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 0 | Season-high 5 tackles |
| Total | 9 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | — | 1 |
#3
Barry Manning
Senior linebacker for Eastern Michigan. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
6′1″ · 212 lb · Stone Mountain, GA · Tucker
CFB Index 74 · #76 of 544 safetiesHigh confidenceReturning to Eastern Michigan for 2026
CFB Index
A single number blending on-field production (an EPA-based value lane) with box-score output for this player's position.
0-100, scaled within each position's own cohort — not directly comparable across positions.
The numbers
9
tackles · 2026
1 PBU
2 games into 2026 so far -- Best game: 5 tackles, vs Sacramento State
His career numbers, season by seasonThe story
4 linebacker for Eastern Michigan. 2026: 2 games with a box-score line.
- Signed as a 2-star recruit to Tucker in 2022.
Barry Manning
Plays like an extra linebacker near the line. 2 stars out of high school, four seasons of real snaps at Eastern Michigan since. The receipt: 5 tackles against Sacramento State — Week 1, 2026.
9 TACKLES · 0 SACKS
Low coverage — composed from the verified record.
- season totals
- positional archetype classification
- recruiting profile
- game log
His career
He was on the field for 4 seasons. That is rarer than it sounds.
2022
- Recruited2-star out of Tucker
Career arc
HS
Recruit
★★
CFB
College
Eastern Michigan
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Coaching lineage · 2023–2026
1 coach2023–2026
Eastern Michigan
Played his entire career under Chris Creighton.
2026 snapshot
Season context · Team result + system
4 seasons under Chris Creighton — 16-24 over that span.
2023Eastern Michigan6-7HC: Chris Creighton · Run-leaning, slow tempo
2024Eastern Michigan5-7HC: Chris Creighton · Run-leaning
2025Eastern Michigan4-8HC: Chris Creighton · Balanced
2026Eastern Michigan1-2HC: Chris Creighton · Pass-leaning, slow tempo
Where this defender ranks vs the field
Box-score production percentiles vs the position cohort
Medium confidenceReinvented
Elite: qb hurries (96th percentile). Concern: tackles (0th percentile).
Box-score production (6)
Percentiles are versus same-position peers with enough snaps this season, based on box-score production. There are no play-by-play efficiency bars here: CFBD's play-value model credits offensive players only, so no defensive EPA exists to rank.
Splits & context
Splits
Per-game splits
Through 2 games: 4.5 TKL/g, 0.0 TFL/g, 0.0 SACK/g, 0.5 PD/g — splits start at 3 games.
Supporting cast · Scheme
Staff and system around the player
Head Coach
Chris Creighton
Pass share
58.2%
107 pass / 77 run
Plays / game
61.3
3 games
Team sack rate
5.1%
117 dropbacks · PBP
Scheme: Pass-leaning, slow tempo.
Awards
Player standing · 2025
Impact starter
Tackle volume for the position among the most productive regulars.
Recognition
Roster2-deepStarterRecognizedEliteApex
Production · CFB Index Score
74 · #76 of 544 safeties
Two-star recruit. Now #76 at the position.
2026 outlook
In the mix for All-MAC
Based on 2025: #7 of 40 Mid-American DBs
How the All-MAC estimate is computed
35% estimated, 95% confidence interval 31–38%. Base rate measured from players who finished at a comparable rank in their conference and came back the next season. It is an estimate from a small sample, not a forecast of this player.
Career stats
| Season | Team | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Eastern Michigan | 9 | 3 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1 | -- | -- |
| 2025 | Eastern Michigan | 75 | 30 | 5.5 | 2.0 | 2 | 1 | -- |
| 2024 | Eastern Michigan | 27 | 11 | 2.5 | 0.0 | 2 | -- | -- |
| 2023 | Eastern Michigan | 10 | 7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -- | -- | -- |
| Career | 121 | 51 | 8.0 | 2.0 | 5 | 1 | -- |
Signature game
SIGNATURE GAME · Week 1 · 2026
W 28–17
Game log
How he plays
Play style
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
CFB Index positional classification
2026 Outlook
Eastern Michigan
2026 Depth chart
Projected starter
Linebacker · Eastern Michigan
Returning around him
- Transfer portal: -14 net (12 in / 26 out)
2026 Award watch
No preseason watch lists yet (most drop June 15 – July 15)
Eastern Michigan · Last season: 4-8 · Talent rank #103 · 2026 recruiting class #106
DNA match
Player DNA
Box Safety
Lives near the line of scrimmage as a de facto extra linebacker.
LB
His 2025 production profile sits closest to Jonathan Lenard Jr.’s 2021 season.
Matches Jonathan on
Tackle volume
PD rate
TFL rate
Differs from Jonathan on
Class year (higher)
Not enough data yet for this comparison.
As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Isaac Gifford's junior season at Nebraska (2022).
Matches Isaac on
Class year
TFL rate
Weight
Player DNA
Players who play like Barry Manning
Background
EMU: 2025: Played in all 12 games and started 10 contests…Led the defense with 73 total tackles, including 30 solo and 43 assisted stops…Posted 5.5 tackles for loss for 25 yards…Added two sacks for 13 yards…Forced a fumble at Miami (Oct. 18)…Recorded one interception against Bowling Green (Nov. 8...
The linebacker corps · Eastern Michigan
- #3Barry Manning75 tackles · 2025
- #11Zach Mowchan40 tackles · 2025
- #40Bryce Eliuk17 tackles · 2025
- #26Solomon Bell4 tackles · 2025
- #45Kadin Bailey2 tackles · 2025
6 more on the roster · Eastern Michigan team page
Stats from CFBD · ESPN · fan discourse. Every figure computed from source tables — not invented. Methodology