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Manning sees two N.C. programs

Rivals.com Junior All-American linebacker Terrell Manning of Laurinburg (N.C.) Scotland County made two unofficial visits, to North Carolina State and North Carolina, on Sunday. These visits came on the heels of a Saturday trip to Clemson, giving Manning three trips to Atlantic Coast Conference programs in one weekend.
At UNC, Manning got the chance to take in the Tar Heels' basketball win against Duke
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"Overall everything was great," he said. "Everything was just fine. We basically met up with a lot of player that were already in the program and some of them that had committed to go to UNC. Then we had a little bit of food and went to the basketball game.
"The basketball was off the chain."
Manning got the chance to meet with new Tar Heels head coach Butch Davis.
"I got to see him," he said. "He basically was just saying that he really wanted me to come up there and was saying he liked me and looked like a good kid."
Overall, the visit helped North Carolina with the in-state star.
"It helps a lot because I see that they are building a relationship with any recruit that wants to go to their school," he said. "That plays an important role with me with regards to the school that I am going to go to."
Earlier on Sunday, Manning got a close look at N.C. State.
"That was fine, too," he said. "I got to talk to their head coach Tom O'Brien and he was telling me about their need at linebacker and the way he wanted to turn the program around. He was talking about the defense and the way they want to have a great defense there."
O'Brien also talked with Manning about the Wolfpack's defensive system and his chance for early playing time.
"They said they are going to have a few formations where they are going to run a 3-4, but that their base defense is going to be a 4-3," he said. "He said they were real thin at linebacker and I could be a valuable player. Out of the recruits that they get in from this signing class, whoever the best freshman linebacker is is probably going to get to play his freshman year or even start.
"That's real important and then I will be able to develop quicker and get my name out."
Manning said that one thing stood out about all three of his weekend visits.
"All three schools had real good people," he said.
Manning has no trips scheduled at this time, but one Southeastern Conference program is trying to get him to set up an unofficial visit. New Alabama assistant coach Curt Cignetti, who was previously at N.C. State, has targeted the talented 'backer for the Tide.
"(Cignetti) just sent me a text and wanted to see if I could come down there real soon," he said. "We were talking about March 31, I think."
In addition to being a Junior All-American, Manning is on both the Rivals100 and Rivals250 to watch lists for the Class of 2008.
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