Giovanni Manu
{{Short description|Tongan-born Canadian player of American football (born 2001)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Giovanni Manu
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Detroit Lions
| number = 59
| position = Offensive tackle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2001|1|26}}
| birth_place = Nuku'alofa, Tonga
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 7
| weight_lb = 354
| high_school = Pitt Meadows
(Pitt Meadows, British Columbia)
| cis = UBC (2018–2023)
| draftyear = 2024
| draftround = 4
| draftpick = 126
| cfldraftyear = 2024
| cfldraftround = 5
| cfldraftpick = 46
| pastteams =
- Detroit Lions ({{NFL Year|2024}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- 2× Second-team All-Canadian (2022, 2023)
| statseason =
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Games played
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Games started
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Fumble recoveries
| statvalue3 =
| pfr = M/ManuGi00
}}
Werner "Giovanni" Manu (born January 26, 2001) is a Tongan professional American football offensive tackle for the Detroit Lions of the National Football League (NFL). He played Canadian football in U Sports for the UBC Thunderbirds. Manu was selected by the Lions in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL draft.
Early life and education
Manu was born on January 26, 2001, in Tonga.{{Cite web|url=https://cdn.theathletic.com/app/uploads/2024/04/11162958/TheBeast2024_MasterFile-8.pdf|website=The Athletic|url-access=subscription|title=The Beast: 2024 NFL Draft Guide|page=133|author=Brugler, Dane|date=April 2024}} He moved to British Columbia in Canada to live with an aunt at the age of 11.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2024/04/26/ubc-ol-giovanni-manu-hoping-to-shine-light-on-u-sports-as-first-nfl-draft-pick-since-2016/|website=3DownNation.com|title=UBC OL Giovanni Manu hoping to shine light on U Sports as first NFL draft pick since 2016|date=April 26, 2024|author=Hodge, John}} He entered the Pitt Meadows Secondary School and tried out football soon after.{{Cite news|url=https://ubyssey.ca/sports/nfl-draft-2024-changemakers/|newspaper=The Ubyssey|title=The NFL has never drafted a player straight from UBC. Giovanni Manu and Theo Benedet could change that |author=Gumboc, Annaliese|date=April 25, 2024}} He also played basketball.
Career
=University=
Manu enrolled at the University of British Columbia in 2018 and redshirted his first year on the UBC Thunderbirds football team.{{Cite news|url=https://packerswire.usatoday.com/2024/04/13/packers-to-host-british-columbia-ot-giovanni-manu-on-top-30-pre-draft-visit/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Packers to host British Columbia OT Giovanni Manu on top 30 pre-draft visit|author=Kruse, Zach|date=April 13, 2024}} He won a starting role on the offensive line in 2019 as the team went 2–6. The 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Manu then started all seven games at left tackle in 2021. He started games at both left tackle and left guard in 2022 and was selected second-team All-Canadian.{{Cite web|url=https://3downnation.com/2024/02/18/ubc-thunderbirds-to-host-nfl-pro-day-for-top-ol-prospects-theo-benedet-giovanni-manu/|website=3DownNation.com|title=UBC Thunderbirds to host NFL pro day for top OL prospects Theo Benedet, Giovanni Manu|date=February 18, 2024|author=Abbott, JC}} He and fellow Thunderbirds offensive lineman Theo Benedet were both ranked as among the top prospects for the 2023 CFL draft, but opted to return to UBC for a final season.{{Cite news|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/university/top-ubc-offensive-linemen-run-reverse-play-opting-out-of-cfl-draft-for-another-t-bird-season|newspaper=The Province|title=Top UBC offensive linemen run reverse play, opting out of CFL draft for another T-Bird season|date=January 28, 2023|author=Ewen, Steve}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.mapleridgenews.com/sports/pitt-meadows-football-star-makes-list-of-top-2o-cfl-draft-prospects-2672273|newspaper=Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News|title=Pitt Meadows football star makes list of top-2o CFL Draft prospects|author=Tucker, Brandon|date=September 12, 2022}} He repeated as a second-team All-Canadian choice in the 2023 selection and helped UBC make their first appearance in the Vanier Cup since 2015.{{Cite news|url=https://theprovince.com/sports/football/nfl/ubc-has-never-had-a-player-picked-in-the-nfl-draft-could-they-have-two-by-the-end-of-the-weekend|newspaper=The Province|title=UBC has never had a player picked in the NFL Draft — could they have two by the end of the weekend?|date=April 25, 2024|author=Ewen, Steve}}
=Professional=
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 7 3/8
| weight = 352
| dash = 5.07
| ten split = 1.81
| twenty split = 2.87
| shuttle = 4.81
| cone drill = 8.29
| vertical = 33.5
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 11
| bench = 23
| arm span = 34 5/8
| hand span = 10 1/2
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1100086&DraftYear=2024 |title=2024 NFL Draft Scout Giovanni Manu College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=April 27, 2024}}
}}
In addition to being a top-ranked prospect for the 2024 CFL draft, Manu also received attention as a potential selection in the 2024 NFL draft, receiving praise for his skills and size.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mapleridgenews.com/local-sports/pitt-meadows-athlete-cracks-top-10-of-cfl-scouting-bureau-list-7302252|newspaper=Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News|title=Pitt Meadows athlete cracks top-10 of CFL Scouting Bureau list|date=January 26, 2024|author=Tucker, Brandon}}{{Cite web|url=https://bc.ctvnews.ca/mobile/ubc-football-star-turning-heads-in-lead-up-to-nfl-draft-1.6853536?cache=sbklajmajdo/7.420346|publisher=CTV News|title=UBC football star turning heads in lead up to NFL draft |author=Miljure, Ben|date=April 18, 2024}} Manu was selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round (126th overall) of the NFL draft and by the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in the fifth round (46th overall) of the CFL draft.{{Cite news|url=https://www.mapleridgenews.com/local-sports/pitt-meadows-football-star-drafted-twice-in-one-year-7353022|newspaper=Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows News|title=Pitt Meadows football star drafted twice in one year|date=May 2, 2024|author=Tucker, Brandon}} He became the first player from UBC ever to be selected in the NFL draft.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/ubc-football-player-giovanni-manu-1.7190078|publisher=CBC.ca|title=UBC football player drafted to NFL describes 'dream come true'|author=Kulkarni, Akshay|date=April 30, 2024}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.detroitlions.com/team/players-roster/giovanni-manu/ Detroit Lions bio]
- [https://gothunderbirds.ca/sports/football/roster/giovanni-manu/10725 UBC Thunderbirds bio]
{{Detroit Lions roster navbox}}
{{Detroit Lions 2024 NFL draft picks}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Manu, Giovanni}}
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Canadian football offensive linemen
Category:Detroit Lions players
Category:People from Pitt Meadows
Category:Players of American football from British Columbia
Category:Players of Canadian football from British Columbia
Category:Tongan expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Tongan players of American football