Mannuel Hendrix
“Texas Cowboy On The Point”
The Texas NFL Dallas Cowboy ‘Hoops’ Basketball Star
By: Daniel Olsen
How ‘bout them Cowboys
The elite speed that helped Hendrix beat top football athletes at the time in friendly races also helped him in his journey to play in the NFL. The Cowboys weren’t new to this rodeo. They had already won two Super Bowls (VI and XII) and had experience in converting basketball players to the gridiron. Cornell Green, Percy Howard, Ron Howard, and Ken Johnson were just a few examples.
Hendrix played for the Cowboys for six seasons at the cornerback position. He increased his production almost every year. He recorded a total of 158 tackles in his first five years before being replaced as the starter in the 1991 season. He also had a few memorable fumble recoveries and interceptions in his career.
Date: 2, 2026
Manuel Hendrix
NEVER PAYED College football. Manuel (Manny) Henrix play six years in the National Football League (NFL) for the Texas based Dallas Cowboys and other NFL teams.
Manny … …
Utah Athletics Hall of Fame member and long-time senior administrator Manny Hendrix took on a new role as senior associate athletics director for alumni engagement and strategy in the summer of 2022. He had previously served as senior assoc. A.D. for development, overseeing the department’s fundraising efforts for major gifts.
Hendrix is in his 32nd year with Utah’s athletics staff after starting at his alma mater in 1994 as the director of athletic relations. In that role he helped Utah’s student-athletes adjust to university life. Hendrix developed the “Partnering with U.” program, which creates career internship and job shadowing opportunities for Utah’s student-athletes. Hendrix also ran the Ute Varsity Club and worked with Utah’s NCAA CHAMPS/Lifeskills program and student recruitment, and assisted the vice president for university relations with community related activities.
A former four-year starter for the Runnin’ Utes, Hendrix was team captain for three years, and earned team MVP and a spot on the all-WAC basketball team in 1984-85. He signed with the NFL’s Dallas Cowboys immediately upon leaving Utah, despite the fact his football experience was limited to high school. He played for Dallas for six years–starting two of those as a cornerback. Hendrix also was a part owner and manager of Matthews Restaurant in Dallas, and owned Manny’s Auto Detailing.
Hendrix originally attended Utah from 1982-86, finished his class work in 1990, and received a bachelor’s degree in speech communication from the U. in 1994.
The Phoenix, Ariz., native has four children: Sharee, Lasundra, Krystal and Manny II.
Manny … …
by Daniel Olsen
Since February is Black History Month, we will be focusing on the great black players in the sports history of the Beehive State. This week’s feature is Manny Hendrix.
Deion Sanders, Bo Jackson and Charlie Ward are three of the more well-known two-sport athletes in history. However, the average sports fan might not remember the Utah basketball and NFL player Manny Hendrix. Hendrix was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame not just for his feats on the Utes basketball team, but for his successful career with the Dallas Cowboys after college.
Runnin’ Utes
Hendrix was born on October 20, 1964 in Phoenix, Arizona. He lived his whole childhood there and attended South Mountain High School. He was an All-State honoree in both football and basketball and also ran track and field.
The only school to recruit him for basketball was the University of Utah. Hendrix seized that opportunity. Although he didn’t have the size of the average basketball player, he was quite the athletic guard at 5’10”. His coach at the time, Lynn Archibald, helped him become a great leader for the team. He was a four-year starter for the Runnin’ Utes, a college basketball team that competed in the Western Athletic Conference at the time.
Hendrix finished his career with two All-WAC honorable-mention teams and second-team All-WAC in his senior year. Although he didn’t have his number retired, Hendrix was one of the best players in school history not to receive those honors. He did help the Utes get to the Sweet 16 in 1983 and beat the powerhouse UCLA Bruins in the process.
Hendrix was clutch when it came to game-winning shots in the WAC Conference tournament. He hit back-to-back game-winning shots, with the most memorable one being against Wyoming. Although that 1985 season would end with a heartbreaking overtime loss to UTEP, it was still a memorable one for many.
In 1986, the Utes lost to San Diego State in the conference tournament but their record spoke for itself. They went 20-10 and finished third in the WAC with a win over a #15 nationally-ranked UTEP team. This must have been a great revenge game to finally beat the powerhouse team that beat them in overtime the year before. The Utes entered the NCAA tournament as a #14 seed and were soundly defeated by the favored North Carolina Tar Heels.
Hendrix finished his Ute career as a top-ten scorer and passer in team history at the time. He finished with 1,493 points and 409 assists. In the present day, he is still thirteenth in scoring and fifth in assists.
Manny Hendrix
| No. 45 | |||||||||
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| Position | Cornerback | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born | October 20, 1964 Phoenix, Arizona, U.S. | ||||||||
| Listed height | 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m) | ||||||||
| Listed weight | 170 lb (77 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school | South Mountain (AZ) | ||||||||
| College | Utah | ||||||||
| NFL draft | 1986: undrafted | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
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Manuel Hendrix (born October 20, 1964) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college basketball for the Utah Utes.
Early life
Hendrix attended South Mountain High School where he received All-American and All-state honors at cornerback in football. He received All-state honors at guard in basketball. He also practiced track.
He accepted a scholarship from the University of Utah, which was the only school that recruited him to play basketball. He became a four-year starter and a two-time captain under the coaching of Lynn Archibald,[1]
Hendrix helped the Utes to the NCAA tournament in 1983 where they eliminated UCLA reaching the Sweet 16, and again in 1986 where they lost to North Carolina in the First round.
During his senior year, he was named team MVP and second-team All-WAC.[2] He hit game-winning shots in back-to-back games during the 1985 WAC tournament, specially the one against Wyoming University.[3][4] He finished his career ranked eighth in scoring with 1,493 points and fifth in assists with 409 in school history.
Hendrix possessed elite speed and put it on display during halftime of the intrasquad spring game in 1986, when tired of the taunts from football player Del Rodgers (a 1982 third-round draft pick), accepted his challenge to a 30-yard run and beat him barefoot. They would then run a 40-yard race where he won running the last 5 yards backwards.
In 2005, he was inducted into the Crimson Club Hall of Fame.[5] In 2006, he was inducted into the Utah Sports Hall of Fame.[6]
Professional career
Dallas Cowboys
Although he never played a down of college football, he signed with the Dallas Cowboys as an undrafted free agent in 1986,[7] following on the foot steps of Cornell Green, Peter Gent, Percy Howard, Ken Johnson and Ron Howard, as basketball players that were converted by the Cowboys to play professional football. On August 26, he was released and later re-signed on September 23.[8] As a rookie he played on the nickel defense on passing downs, tallying 13 tackles and one fumble recovery.
In 1987, he registered 22 tackles and one pass defensed. He also started his first career game in the season finale against the St. Louis Cardinals, replacing an injured Ron Francis, while making 11 tackles and one pass defensed.
In 1988, he collected 31 tackles, one interception and 6 passes defensed. In 1989, he registered 3 starts, 27 tackles, 0.5 sacks, 6 quarterback pressures, 17 passes defensed and one fumble recovery.
In 1990, he became a starter, with 10 of his 11 starts coming at right cornerback after passing Robert Williams on the depth chart. He finished with 65 tackles, one interception, 6 passes defensed, one quarterback pressure and one forced fumble.
The next year, he lost his starting job to rookie Larry Brown after the third game. At the end of the 1991 season, he was left unprotected in Plan B free agency.
San Francisco 49ers
On April 2, 1992, he was signed in Plan B free agency by the San Francisco 49ers,[9][10] but was cut in July.
Buffalo Bills
On July 31, 1992, he signed as a free agent with the Buffalo Bills. He was released on August 31.[11]
Personal life
Hendrix worked as the director of athletic relations and senior associate athletics director for development at the University of Utah.[12] He also owned Manny’s Auto Detailing and was a manager and part owner of Matthews Restaurant in Dallas.
His son Manny Hendrix Jr., plays semi-professional basketball in Australia’s Big V basketball league.[13]
References
- “Archibald’s legacy is one of integrity”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Watson Named to All-WAC Team Again”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Utah’s top-10 conference tournament games of all time”. Archived from the original on July 14, 2018. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “College Basketball Roundup : Tennessee, Auburn Win in SEC Tournament”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Crimson Club Hall of Fame To Induct Four On April 25”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Hall Of Fame Honorees”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Cowboys make some changes”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Yestardy’s Transactions In Sports”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Cowboys sign Cornish, but lose Hendrix”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Transactions”. Archived from the original on April 6, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Transactions”. Archived from the original on April 1, 2015. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Manny Hendrix bio”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
- “Shark Import Hendrix Ready for Rockstar Reception”. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
External links
- Hendric Back at U. Advising Athletes
- Transition Game : Dallas Rookie Tries to Turn the Corner From Basketball to NFL
- Long Shot Hendrix Beat Odds at First Dallas Camp
