Giovanni Manu selected by the Detroit Lions in the fourth round of the NFL Draft – University of British Columbia Athletics

Football
4/27/2024 11:01:00 AM

Jeff Sargeant (UBC Communications)

VANCOUVER – Giovanni Manu has made history as the first UBC Thunderbird ever selected in the NFL Draft, taken in the fourth round by the Detroit Lions.

The defending NFC North champions traded up to grab the 6-foot-8, 352 pound left tackle, sending their third round pick in 2025 to the New York Jets to take Manu with the 126^th overall selection.

“My phone started ringing, it was a Detroit area code and I just picked up and it was head coach Dan Campbell on the phone,” said Manu of the moment he found out he was headed to Motor City. “I had my whole family beside me and the first thing he said when I picked up the phone, he yelled through: ‘are you ready to be a Lion?!’ I was just so ecstatic, all the emotions were running through me. I told him 110 per cent I’m ready to be a Lion and represent the great city of Detroit.”

A two-time All-Canadian, Manu started every game for the Thunderbirds since his rookie season in 2019, literally a huge component of 2023’s Canada West leading offence and a critical component in UBC’s Hardy Cup and Mitchell Bowl titles.

 

The Pitt Meadows Secondary graduate not only became the first T-Bird to be selected in the NFL Draft, but just the 15^th U SPORTS player to ever hear their name called and the first to be selected directly from a Canadian University since 2016. He is also the highest selected U SPORTS player since Western DL Vaughn Martin was taken 113^th overall by the Chargers in 2009.

Born in Tonga before moving to B.C. prior to high school to live with his aunt and pursue both the academic and athletic opportunities more readily available. That life-changing decision and sacrifice seems to have now paid off in spades.

“I’m just super proud of myself and the people who got me here, everyone at UBC. I truly can’t wait for it,” Manu added, saying what made Saturday so much more special was the ability to share the moment with his family including his parents who flew in. “Just to have them up here for that moment was really special. I started crying, all these emotions started going through me, thinking about all the sacrifices my family made to get me here to a wonderful city like Vancouver, here in Canada. All those memories, all their sacrifices came rushing back and it was great to see them really proud. My dad jumped off the couch and started clapping and I’ve never seen him act like that. It felt like they won the lottery, they’re just super ecstatic and happy for me and I couldn’t be happier seeing them like that.”

Manu will now have the opportunity to become the fourth UBC Thunderbird to appear in an NFL game joining Bill Crawford (OL – New York Giants), Brant Bengen (WR – Seattle), and current Dallas Cowboys offensive tackle Dakoda Shepley.

“Giovanni Manu, him and I had a terrific chemistry,” said UBC head coach Blake Nill. “Gio has mentioned a number of times how the Detroit culture and UBC culture are really similar. I think the Lions felt that too after speaking with him and realized this is a kid who can fit with them and who understands the game and the expectations of him. Everyone was impressed with him but then you analyze the fit and they have to have felt that in order to draft him as a fourth rounder, and to trade up to secure him.”

Touted as one of this year’s biggest sleeper picks, Manu burst onto the international scene following an outstanding Pro Day where he ran a 5.03 40 yard dash which would have tied for tenth fastest among offensive lineman at the NFL combine while being the second heaviest at the position.

The third Canadian taken in this year’s NFL Draft, Manu has kicked off what’s expected to be an historic week for the UBC program. The 2024 CFL Draft takes place on Tuesday, April 30 with the potential for a record number of Thunderbirds to be selected.

With the Lions holding their rookie mini-camp starting May 11, Manu has already started to mentally prepare for what lies ahead.

“I told myself I’m going to enjoy this, probably just until midnight tonight. As soon as the clock hits 12 a.m. and the calendar flips, I’m going to put my mind towards getting ready for rookie mini-camp. The work’s just getting started. I’m in that mindset that it’s go time and I just can’t wait.”