Grayson McManus, a 6'1", 185-pound athlete from Thorsby High School in Alabama, is wanting to make a name for himself in the 2025 recruiting class. Though he didn’t start playing football until the 7th grade, the former baseball standout quickly fell in love with the game. “All of my friends were playing,” McManus said. “Baseball had been my major sport from the time I was 3 years old until I played that first year, and I fell in love with the game. I have been a starter since that very first year.”

McManus has shown his versatility on the field, training with Quarterback Country in Hoover, Alabama, and honing his skills with his 7-on-7 team, Alabama Legends. While he initially focused on quarterback, his coaches recognized his potential in other positions. “I simply want to play at the college level no matter the position,” McManus explained. “Through the summer and the present time, I am training with my high school team doing as much agility and weight training as I can to get prepared for the upcoming season.”

Despite the challenges of coming from a smaller school, McManus is determined to get noticed. He’s attended numerous camps and sent out hundreds of emails with his game film. “I just know it only takes the right one to see it. It will happen in God’s time, not mine. I just have to be patient,” he said.

McManus has already received offers from Milsaps College, Grinnell College, and two junior colleges—Florida Central Tech and Orange Coast College. As he looks forward to his senior season, his goals are clear: “My main goal is to not only improve my skills but my teammates' skills as well. However, my personal goal is to become the best athlete I can while having the most fun as I can through the game of football.”

Off the field, McManus is just as committed to his faith and community as he is to his sport. “I like to believe I am a good and dependable friend, and I am also a follower and child of God,” he shared. An avid outdoorsman, McManus enjoys spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and staying active with his church youth group.

As the 2025 season approaches, Grayson McManus is one to watch—not just for his athletic talent but for his leadership and character both on and off the field.