For the first time in eight years, a U Sports player is being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft with offensive lineman Giovanni Manu getting picked up by Detroit in the fourth round.
Manu also became the first player from the University of British Columbia to be taken at the NFL draft. He along with fellow offensive tackle Theo Benedet have been on the radar of NFL teams since the fall.
Manu was originally born in Tonga but moved to Pitt Meadows, B.C., and lives with his aunt as both of his parents still live at home in Tonga.
Manu completed 13 predraft interviews with the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, New York Jets, New England Patriots, Cleveland Browns, Cincinnati Bengals, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, and Denver Broncos. He also spoke to the Baltimore Ravens, Miami Dolphins, New Orleans Saints, Arizona Cardinals, and Minnesota Vikings.
The last U Sports player to be selected in the NFL draft was defensive tackle David Onyemata, who was selected in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the New Orleans Saints. He spent seven seasons in New Orleans before agreeing to a three-year, $35 million deal with the Atlanta Falcons in 2023.
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