Tashawn Manning

Tashawn Manning at Auburn's Jordan-Hare Stadium during the 2015 season. (247Sports)

Tashawn Manning continues to receive chemotherapy treatment five days a week, but that hasn't stopped the big guy from keeping busy this summer.

The Auburn defensive line signee from Apopka, Florida, enrolled in two classes at nearby Valencia Community College in May and has also taken a part-time job with the city of Orlando's recreation department.

"I'm doing pretty good," Manning told AL.com. "I pretty much got used to (the treatment) and I'm pushing through classes and work, trying to stay busy. It feels real good. It feels like I have purpose. It's something that keeps me going."

Manning was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia on Thanksgiving Day last November, less than two months before he expected to enroll at Auburn in time for spring practices. He immediately began treatment and lost approximately 45 pounds in the first four weeks, but has since put the weight back on his 6-foot-4, 285-pound frame.

Manning is hopeful his determination and fight will soon pay off -- he signed with the Tigers in February and plans to enroll in classes at Auburn in January 2017.

"I set my mind to it and I feel like I'll accomplish that," Manning said. "Right now (my doctors) said my health is back to normal. After that I'll just have bi-weekly visits back and forth. There's still a lot to be done. I still need to pick up my workouts and continue with my work (in the classroom) but it feels relieving. Not being able to do stuff before, now I can continue with my normal life. It feels good."

Manning is currently in the final stage of his chemotherapy treatment, according to his father, but will continue to receive medication and regular breathing check-ups for the next six or seven months. If all goes well his doctors will grant him a release to begin working out again, and Auburn's team doctors will then evaluate him and closely monitor his progress. A date for a possible return to the football field has not been set.

"There's zero cancer in the bone marrow and his daily cell count numbers are way up," Buck Manning said. "Everything's working just like we prayed for it. Tashawn is ready to get back into it. Every day he's looking at stuff on the computer about Auburn, keeping up with the headlines... I'd say his spirits are up considering what he's going through."

Manning is looking forward to visiting Auburn July 23 for a recruit barbecue held by the coaches. He hasn't been to the campus since the Tigers fell to Georgia Nov. 14.

"It's been a while since I've been up there so it will probably feel good to get back," he said. "I talked with Coach (Gus) Malzahn and Coach (Scott) Fountain the other week and they've been waiting on me."

"Tashawn has done nothing but fight in his battle with leukemia," Fountain said in a video on OrlandoSentinel.com. "We are so proud of what he's done with that and where he's headed. He fights like an Auburn man. 'Work, hard work' is our motto, and that's what he does."

Manning is one of three players who signed with Auburn's 2016 class who have yet to enroll. The other two -- safety Marlon Character Jr. and defensive lineman Nick Coe -- still have academic work to do and hope to be on the Plains July 31. Offensive lineman Brodarious Hamm, who is battling Hodgkin's lymphoma, enrolled at Auburn in the last week of June with quarterback Woody Barrett.

"I know as soon as I get there, my No. 1 goal will be to get back in the mix and fight for a spot," Manning said.