Some football journeys follow a straight line. High school stardom leads to a scholarship, and college dominance leads to the pros.

Malik Manuel’s journey has looked nothing like what is considered ordinary..

It’s been full of setbacks, detours and surprises, but also resilience, opportunity and one viral video that put him in the spotlight.

His story isn’t about the smoothest path. Instead, it’s about refusing to quit, even when the odds say otherwise.

Manuel’s football journey began as a simple question from his mother.

“Earliest memories, and I remember this so vividly,” he said. “I went to my uncle’s football game one time… my mom just asked me while we were watching, ‘You want to play this sport?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah.’ And then, like, that next week, I started Pee Wee.”

At six years old, he was hooked. He still remembers picking up his first jersey, a random choice that later came to define his identity.

“I didn’t know anything about football, so I just went and grabbed a random jersey. It was lucky number 10, and I wore that up until college.”

While his uncle first inspired him, Manuel also found motivation in watching Champ Bailey play for the Denver Broncos.

“I never played defense like that, but I loved Champ Bailey… I just loved the Broncos,” he said.

Manuel’s football path didn’t reflect a young standout’s highlight reel. For much of high school, he was overlooked.

“Through my journey with football, even before high school, I was always kind of counted out by coaches,” he said. “I never really got to play much… it wasn’t until senior year when I actually finally got to play a lot and see the field.”

When college came around, scholarships weren’t waiting. Grades kept him from pursuing opportunities at UNC and Western, so he took matters into his own hands.

“I ended up walking onto the team here at CMU,” he said. “I was never on scholarship or anything. I just walked in and wanted to play football.”

Manuel believed he had the talent to shine at CMU, but he admits he struggled with the off-the-field aspects of being a student-athlete.

“I thought I was gonna be that guy, but I just didn’t take care of business in the classroom… I was always a good player, but just like me taking care of things personally, that messed me up.”

Eventually, academics sidelined him, and he started to question what was next.

“Honestly, I felt like I’m in that moment right now,” he said. “Going from college to the NFL is harder than people think. It’s been a big reality check, and very humbling.”

The turning point came outside of college football. YouTube star Deestroying, known for giving unsigned athletes a platform, announced a $10,000 one-on-one tournament. Manuel was injured that summer and hadn’t trained, but he decided to enter anyway.

“I didn’t even work out that whole summer because I was injured,” Manuel said. “My friend let me use her car, I drove down there, and the next day I just balled out.”

At first, he wasn’t sure if he belonged.

“I was so nervous,” he said. “Then I made eye contact with him, he looked me up and down, handed me a wristband, and after that, I was locked in.”

What followed was a run that ended with Manuel holding both the prize money and a newly-recognized identity.

“Never thought I’d use this word, but surreal. I could not believe it. Probably the most emotion I ever showed, ever,” he said. “Ten thousand dollars… and my mom was there, my sister, my closest friends. It was surreal.”

The win gave him a boost that went well beyond money.

“That was a big boost of confidence… it made me really grateful and strengthened my faith a lot too, because I definitely know it wasn’t me. That was literally all God-given.”

And when he needed it most, the money helped too. “Honestly, the money helped me a lot, cause I was really down bad,” he said. “It helped me get by when I wasn’t really working.”

The exposure opened doors, but the grind didn’t get easier. He found himself playing semi-pro, which was something he dismissed beforehand.

“That’s probably bottom-of-the-barrel football… you don’t get paid, you just go out there every Saturday and play,” he said. “I enjoyed it, but I never imagined myself playing semi-pro.”

Even without a traditional path, Manuel hasn’t stopped chasing professional opportunities. He has had UFL tryouts, workouts with pro teams and plans for upcoming showcases. His training is now fueled more by discipline than anything else.

“Discipline over motivation, because some days you might not be motivated to go work out, but discipline is what’s gonna bring you further down the line,” he said. “What keeps me moving forward now is seeing all the people at tryouts doing the same exact thing I’m doing. It makes me realize I’m not the only one working hard, so it makes me want to work harder.”

Looking back, Manuel sees his story as proof that success doesn’t require a perfect resume.

“My advice for people that don’t take the traditional route: don’t get caught up in the media like I did,” he said. “Discipline over motivation, you should expect the worst, but hope for the best.”

He also sees two sides of platforms like Deestroying’s YouTube channel. “In a positive way, he’s empowering a lot of young football players,” Manuel said. “His story motivated me to keep going.”

When asked what he’s most proud of, Manuel didn’t mention his stats or highlights. He pointed to his perseverance.

“What I’m most proud of is my perseverance and my drive,” he said. “I’ve gotten a lot of nos, but my will to keep going, and that’s just something you can’t really teach.”

For Manuel, belief has been the one constant.

“If there was anyone that ever had a reason to give up, it would be me,” he said. “But I just keep pushing. Stay grounded, stay disciplined and always believe in yourself.”