Get to know British Columbia offensive lineman Giovanni Manu, Lions' fourth-round pick

Offensive tackle Giovanni Manu, who was drafted by the Lions in the fourth round of the NFL Draft on Saturday, was born in Tonga and moved with his family to Canada at the age of 11.

He was raised by his aunt in Pitt Meadows, British Columbia, about an hour outside of Vancouver.

He mainly played left tackle in college but did have six games worth of experience at left guard during the 2022 season, when he was given the first of two second-team All-Canadian selections at the University of British Columbia.

Manu, who graded out as a priority free agent in Dane Brugler's annual draft guide for The Athletic, was not invited to the NFL Combine.

Early in his high school career, Manu favored basketball but began to focus on football after gaining 80 pounds and growing 5 inches between his freshman and sophomore years. He redshirted during the 2018 season but started all eight games in 2019 and became a four-year starter over his career.

The pick is reminiscent of Detroit trading up to select Brodric Martin, a developmental defensive tackle without much public attention, in the third round in 2023. Like Martin, Manu (6-foot-8, 350 pounds) is not ready to contribute as a complete football player but possesses elite physical traits. The 5.02-second 40-yard dash time recorded by Manu at his pro day would have tied him for the ninth-best time amongst offensive linemen at the combine.

The Giovanni Manu file

Birthplace: Kingdom of Tonga

Birthday: Jan. 26, 2001 (Age: 23)

High school: Pitt Meadows Secondary

College: British Columbia

College major: Arts

Accolades: Two-time second-team All-Canadian (2022, 2023)

Pro day measurements

Hand: 10½ inches

Arm: 34⅝ inches

Wingspan: 83 inches

40-yard dash: 5.06 seconds (20-yard: 2.87; 10-yard: 1.81)

Vertical: 33½ inches

Broad jump: 8 feet, 11 inches

3-cone: 8.29 seconds

Shuttle: 4.81 seconds

nbianchi@detroitnews.com

@nolanbianchi