Meet the 300lbs NFL Draft pick with hopes to pave way for Canadian college stars

NFL newcomer Giovani Manu has goals for himself that include helping his native Canada and its collegiate players.

The Detroit Lions selected the 6-foot-7, 352-pound offensive lineman in the fourth round of the 2024 NFL Draft over the weekend.

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Detroit traded up with the New York Jets to draft Manu, 23, with the No. 126 pick, and gave up a 2025 third-round pick to move up in the deal.

Manu played in U Sports which is the national sport governing body for universities in Canada.

He was the first U Sports play taken in the NFL Draft for almost a decade.

And Manu hopes he will help pave the way for Canadian collegiate player to enter the NFL.

“I hope I make the U Sports community and other fellow football Canadians in U Sports happy and proud,” Manu said to 3DownNation last week.

“I hope I’m shining a light towards U Sports so that NFL people know that there’s potential within U Sports.

“I hope they take U Sports more seriously and hope they come up here every year because there truly is other talent out there besides us here at UBC.”

Manu won’t be the only U Sports player who was selected in this year’s NFL Draft

Manu isn’t the only U Sports player who has joined an NFL team as his University of British Colombia teammate Theo Benedet signed an undrafted free agent deal with the Chicago Bears.

Both took part in UBC’s pro day which was attended by members from 16 NFL teams and six CFL teams.

Manu ran a 5.03-second fort-yard dash, recorded an impressive 23 reps of 225 pounds on the bench press and leaped 33.5 inches in the vertical jump.

The 23-year-old was able to complete 11 pre draft visits which included the Lions.

The NFL has been on Manu’s mind since he committed to UBC in 2019.

Manu is represented by NFL agent Zeke Sandhu, whose other clients include Odell Beckham Jr. and Christian Kirk, among others.

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The big-bodied NFL lineman will represent U Sports as well as his home country of Tonga, where he lived until he was 11-years-old.

Manu and his two older siblings moved to B.C. to live with their aunt while their parents stayed in Tonga where they still reside.

He has only seen his mother and father once or twice each year since, so they connect through telephone and video-calling.

“I represent my Tongan people, my Polynesian people. I’m extremely proud to be Tongan but I’m also happy to be a Canadian,” Manu said.

“Canada accepted me coming here and I have found great friends here, great mentors in this country, but ultimately I represent Tonga.

“That’s where I was born and raised and that’s where I’m proud to be of.”

Manu will join offensive lineman Netane Muti as the only two active Tongan-born players in the NFL.