'He's the real deal': Tongan origins, family sacrifice propel UBC's Giovanni Manu to NFL opportunity

In a historic iteration of the NFL draft, the Detroit Lions orchestrated one of the event’s biggest surprises by trading up to select Giovanni Manu. A surprise nearly as big as the 6-foot-7, 350-pound offensive lineman from the University of British Columbia, himself.

'He's the real deal': Tongan origins, family sacrifice propel UBC's Giovanni Manu to NFL opportunity
A men's football offensive lineman blocks during a game.

In a historic iteration of the NFL draft, the Detroit Lions orchestrated one of the event’s biggest surprises by trading up to select Giovanni Manu. A surprise nearly as big as the 6-foot-7, 350-pound offensive lineman from the University of British Columbia, himself.