offensive tackle woke up at 4 a.m. Friday and couldnB次元官网网址檛 fall back asleep.

On the rookieB次元官网网址檚 ride to work, he was overcome by tears of joy.

ManuB次元官网网址檚 excitement and emotions were triggered by a long and lonely path, leaving his parents on the south Pacific island of Tonga at age 11 to live with his aunt and two older siblings in Vancouver in the hopes of a better life.

A growth spurt in high school, along with support on and off the field, led to Manu becoming a 6-foot-7, 354-pound prospect that intrigued the Lions enough to trade up to draft him in the fourth round last month.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been such a long journey,B次元官网网址� he said after participating in DetroitB次元官网网址檚 rookie minicamp.

ManuB次元官网网址檚 parents havenB次元官网网址檛 seen him play a snap of football in person, but he hopes theyB次元官网网址檒l come for a preseason game in August.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be really emotional, for sure,B次元官网网址� he said.

Manu became the first football player taken in the NFL draft from the University of British Columbia, a school he chose instead of playing across the border for the Washington Huskies because of Thunderbirds coach Blake Nill.

B次元官网网址淗e sort of played that father figure role, knowing that my parents werenB次元官网网址檛 around,B次元官网网址� Manu said. B次元官网网址淚t was a no-brainer for me to go play for a guy like that.B次元官网网址�

The Lions, clearly, thought it was an intelligent move to give up a third-round pick next year to acquire a late, four-round selection to take the under-the-radar Manu at No. 126 overall.

B次元官网网址淚n the world of scouting, we talk about turning over every stone,B次元官网网址� general manager Brad Holmes said.

ItB次元官网网址檚 easy to see why the Lions were intrigued.

Manu is massive, even by NFL standards, and nimble enough to move his feet for a left tackle and to make on a basketball court as he did in high school.

Detroit also has the luxury of letting him develop behind All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell, who is from American Samoa, along with standout veteran Taylor Decker at offensive tackle.

While there isnB次元官网网址檛 pressure on Manu to perform right away in games, he is keeping expectations high on the practice field and in the weight room.

B次元官网网址淚 refuse to get outworked by my peers or my opponents,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淭he way I look at it is that, if someone outworks me, it stops me from feeding my family.B次元官网网址�

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