Lions made OT Giovanni Manu of Tonga the 1st NFL draft pick from University of British Columbia

ALLEN PARK, Mich. (AP) — Detroit Lions offensive tackle Giovanni Manu woke up at 4 a.m. Friday and couldn’t fall back asleep.

On the rookie’s ride to work, he was overcome by tears of joy.

Manu’s 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.

“It’s been such a long journey,” he said after participating in Detroit’s rookie minicamp.

Manu’s parents haven’t seen him play a snap of football in person, but he hopes they’ll come for a preseason game in August.

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