Manny Ramírez (American football)

Infobox NFLactive


name=Manuel Ramírez
currentteam=Detroit Lions
currentnumber=63
currentpositionplain=Offensive guard
birthdate=birth date and age|1983|2|19
birthplace=Houston, Texas
heightft=6
heightin=4
weight=330
debutyear=
debutteam=
college=Texas Tech
draftyear=2007
draftround=4
draftpick=117
pastteams=
* Detroit Lions (2007-present)
nfl=RAM062293

Manuel "Manny" Ramírez (born on February 19, 1983 in Houston, Texas) is an American football offensive lineman who played for Texas Tech,cite web|url=http://media.www.dailytoreador.com/media/storage/paper870/news/2007/04/30/Sports/Trifecta.Three.Former.Tech.Players.Selected.In.2007.Nfl.Draft-2886785.shtml?reffeature=htmlemailedition | title=Trifecta: Three former Tech players selected in 2007 NFL Draft | publisher="The Daily Toreador" | date=April 30, 2007] starting for four years on an offense that was in the top three in passing in NCAA Division-I Football for each of those years. He was selected by the Detroit Lions with the St. Louis Rams' pick (117th overall) in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft.

Early history

Manny Ramírez grew up in Houston, Texas. He attended Willowridge High School where he was named First Team All-District 20-5A two years in a row. In addition, he was named the 6th best center in the country by [http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com Rivals.com] .cite news | url=http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=4201 | title=Manuel Ramirez Profile - Football Recruiting | publisher=Rivals.com | date=4 February 2002 | accessdate=2007-01-24] During his senior year, Manny was recruited by Nebraska, Kansas State, UTEP, University of Houston and Iowa State.cite news | url=http://footballrecruiting.rivals.com/viewprospect.asp?pr_key=4201 | title=Manuel Ramirez Profile - Football Recruiting | publisher=Rivals.com | date=4 February 2002 | accessdate=2007-01-24]

College career

As a redshirt freshman in 2003, Ramírez started 10 games, making his first start against SMU and capped off the season with a start in the 2003 Houston Bowl. During the next three years, he started all 36 regular season games along with starts in the 2004 Holiday Bowl, the 2005 Cotton Bowl and the 2006 Insight Bowl. Ramírez was named a 2nd Team All-Big 12 Offensive Lineman in 2005 cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112905aaa.html |title=2005 All-Big 12 Awards |publisher=Big 12 Conference |date=November 29, 2005] . Ramírez began the 2006 season on the Outland Trophy Watch list in 2006, and was named to The All-Big 12 Preseason First Team cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/072106aaa.html |title=2006 All-Big 12 Preseason Awards |publisher=Big 12 Conference |date=July 21, 2006] . He concluded the 2006 season being named to the All-Big 12 Honorable Mention Team cite web|url=http://www.big12sports.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112806aac.html |title=2006 All-Big 12 Awards |publisher=Big 12 Conference |date=November 28, 2008] .

Ramírez was well respected as one of the most powerful men on the team. He set the school bench press record in 2003 by pressing 525 pounds. Ramírez tied that record the following year. In 2005, Ramírez broke his own bench press record by pressing 550 pounds at the Annual Texas Tech "Night of Champions".

Ramírez finished 2006 on an offensive line that allowed the fewest sacks, 16, since the 2000 season.

2006 Insight Bowl

Ramírez played in the 2006 Insight Bowl which saw the biggest comeback in NCAA Division-I bowl history.cite web|url=http://sports.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=263630135 |title=Down 31, Texas Tech rallies for biggest bowl comeback |publisher=Associated Press via ESPN | date=December 29, 2006] The Red Raiders overcame a 31-point third-quarter deficit to beat their opponent by 3 in overtime. The winning touchdown was a 3-yard run from Shannon Woods behind a block by Ramírez.

Post Texas Tech career

Ramírez entered the 2007 NFL Draft following the completion of the 2006 season. He was listed as the number four overall offensive guard prospect by ESPN Insider.cite web|url=http://insider.espn.go.com/nfldraft/draft/tracker/position?id=47&draftyear=2007 |title=ESPN NFL DraftTracker |publisher=ESPN | date=January 24, 2007] Ramírez accepted an invitation to the 2007 Under Armor Senior Bowl, a post-season exhibition game, played in Mobile, Alabama.cite web|url=http://www.seniorbowl.com/2007/news/2007big12.htm |title=Big 12 To Send 12 To 2007 Under Armour Senior Bowl |publisher=Senior Bowl | date=January 9, 2007] . Ramírez also accepted an invitation to the 2007 NFL Combine, held February 21 - 27, 2007 at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

NFL career

Ramírez was selected by the Detroit Lions with the 18th pick in the 4th round of the 2007 NFL Draft. Detroit traded two of their three fifth-round selections (139th and 154th overall) to the St. Louis Rams for their fourth-round selection (117th overall) in order to select Ramirez.

Personal life

Ramírez majored in exercise sport science and was married in July 2006 to Iris Castillo.

References

External links

* [http://texastech.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/ramirez_manuel00.html Manuel Ramírez Texas Tech Red Raider Bio]
* [http://www.nfl.com/combine/story/10019715 NFL Combine results]