Dylan Manning never thought he would play varsity football as a freshman.

But when the opportunity presented itself, Manning seized it with a calm and stoic demeanor reflective of the family members who came through the Rochelle football program before him.

Manning started his first year of high school with the fresh-soph team, but it became evident very early that his talents exceeded playing at the lower levels. Meanwhile, the Hubs were seeking an answer as to who would emerge as their starting varsity wingback.

That answer was Manning, who made his varsity debut during Rochelle’s third game of the 2023 season, a home matchup against Johnsburg.

Wearing the No. 41 jersey after his uncle Jim Gensler, whose sons Garrett and Grant Gensler rank among Rochelle’s all-time leading rushers,

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