Lions' Manu hoped to scale Everest in first offseason, but quickly realized he needed to learn to walk before he could climb

Allen Park – The night Giovanni Manu was drafted by the Detroit Lions, the Tongan native coming from the Canadian collegiate ranks detailed how All-Pro offensive tackle Penei Sewell served as an inspiration.

Manu was a sophomore at the University of British Columbia when he watched a short video documenting Sewell's draft night experience. At the end of the mini doc, Sewell looked directly into the camera to tell Polynesian kids it's possible to accomplish any goal if you set your mind to it.

That's all Manu needed to hear. 

"It really motivated me," Manu said. "I told myself, ‘If one of my fellow Polynesian brothers can make it …and he’s giving me words of motivation, there’s no reason why I can’t do it either.’"

After realizing his initial goal of making it to the NFL, Manu quickly devised another. He was determined to reward Detroit's faith for trading a future third-round pick to select him, so he set his mind to emulating Sewell once again. 

"They took a chance on me, they traded up for me, so I told myself as soon as I get there, I'm going to try to be the best I can be," Manu said. "I had expectations to be Penei Sewell on Day 1."