Before he became a talented teacher at the NFL level, Marquand Manuel was a determined student-athlete at the University of Florida.

Manuel, who will reportedly replace Cory Undlin as the Eagles’ new defensive backs coach, spent his college career studying instead of socializing.

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Former Eagles cornerback Lito Sheppard, who spent his entire college career in Gainesville, Fla. with Manuel, remembers the young safety focusing more on the Gators’ playbook than partying and having fun during their time together.

“That guy knew the playbook probably better than the coach did," Sheppard told NJ Advance Media on Monday. "He took on that type of leadership, even in college. To be that leader, to be that professor, to be that guy who gave every blood, sweat and tear he had with 130 percent.”

Manuel’s dedication to the game helped him carve out an eight-year playing career in the NFL. The 2002 sixth-round pick bounced around the league, as he played for six different teams, providing an intelligent, passionate presence in those various defensive backfields.

Sheppard said Manuel’s notable football IQ was the result of constant preparation.

“He was always the first one in line, he always worked the hardest,” Sheppard said. “His preparation and his steps to prepare were unmatched by anybody that I’ve ever known, honestly.”

Manuel retired after a one-year stint with Jim Schwartz’s Lions in 2009. After a two-year break from football, Manuel decided to share his knowledge of the game as a coach.

Manuel was hired as an assistant special teams coach by the Seahawks in 2012. He would eventually earn the title of assistant secondary coach, helping the “Legion of Boom” develop into one of the best secondary groups of all-time.

Following his success in Seattle, Manuel tagged along with former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn to the Atlanta Falcons, where he was named secondary coach. After just two seasons in Atlanta, Manuel was promoted to defensive coordinator.

Manuel was fired, along with the Falcons’ two other coordinators, in 2018. He spent last season away from the league, so his new opportunity with the Eagles will serve as a second chance to teach at the highest level.

“He’s always been a student of the game, forever,” Sheppard said. “Him having the ability to adapt personality-wise, from being a player to the coaching staff, it can have a great impact. [Manuel] is probably the ideal person you want in your organization.”

Sheppard said Manuel’s passion for the game will be hard to miss on the sideline at Lincoln Financial Field this fall.

Manuel’s competitiveness will be relatable to his players. His energy is contagious, and his love for the game is palpable.

“What I think he’s going to bring is a very Brian Dawkins-like inspirational mentality,” Sheppard said. “He’s a really pumped up guy, he’s a very exciting guy, he’s a very passionate guy about his craft.”

Manuel will have his work cut out for him during his first offseason in Philadelphia.

With three of the Eagles’ four starting defensive backs set to test free agency in March and strong safety Malcolm Jenkins looking for a raise, the team could have a whole new group in the secondary next season. Given general manager Howie Roseman’s desire to get younger on the depth chart, the secondary may be one of the spots for a youth movement.

Manuel will need to coach up the team’s incumbent talent, while also guiding the youngsters who will be added to the group this summer.

Sheppard thinks Manuel is up for the challenge. Manuel has been through the rigors of the evaluation process from the other side and can relate to his pupils in a way that most can’t at this point in their coaching careers.

“He’s been on both sides of the field,” Sheppard said. “He’s been a player at a high level … so he knows what it’s like to grind from the bottom to get to the top.”

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Mike Kaye may be reached at mkaye@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @Mike_E_Kaye. Find NJ.com on Facebook.