Manupuna is a young defensive tackle prospect who has had stints with the Redskins in 2006-07. Last year, he played for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League and recorded 16 tackles and 2.5 sacks.
How Acquired: Signed with the Redskins as an undrafted rookie free agent in May 2006
PRO:
Spent the 2008 season playing for the AFL’s Utah Blaze
Spent the 2007 season on the Redskin’s practice squad
Spent the 2006 season on both the Jets and Redskins practice squad
2008 (Utah Blaze)
Played for the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League in 2008 and recorded 16 tackles with 2.5 sacks
2007 (WAS)
Re-signed to a futures contract by the Washington Redskins and was released on May 15, 2007
Re-signed on August 2, 2007 and released again on August 13, 2007
2006 (NYJ / WAS)
Signed by the Washington Redskins as a college free agent in May 2006 and spent part of the season on the practice squad
Signed to the New York Jet’s practice squad on December 20, 2006 and released on December 27, 2006
Started all 13 games as a senior, including the Champs Sports Bowl, and finished his best season as a senior at CU while earning honorable mention all-Big 12 Conference honors from both the Associated Press and the league coaches
Selected by the coaches as the recipient of CU’s Regiment Award, given to the player with the greatest contribution with the least recognition, and also earned his way on to CU’s prestigious Victory Club
Tallied 52 tackles (28 solo) during the 2005 season and also had four tackles for losses, five third down stops, seven QB hurries, two fumble recoveries and two pass deflections
Played in all 13 games with 12 starts, including in the Houston Bowl, and earned honorable mention all-Big 12 honors from the Associated Press as a junior
Finished the 2004 season with 42 tackles (28 solo) and 2.5 sacks, as well as eight tackles for losses, eight third down stops and a forced fumble
Was one of the 10 players named by the coaches to CU’s Victory Club, and was tabbed as the Most Improved Defensive Player following his junior season
First name is pronounced vah-ka; last name pronounced ma-na-pooh-na
Earned first-team all-state honors from both the Honolulu Advertiser and Star-Bulletin as a senior
Was named to the All-Far West team by SuperPrep and ranked as the No. 72 player overall in the region
Also earned first-team all-Interscholastic League of Honolulu (ILH) honors during both his junior and senior year
Registered 60 tackles (37 solo), recovered four fumbles, forced three fumbles, and recorded three sacks during his senior season
At St. Louis, finished with a record of 13-1 in both his junior and senior seasons, as well as the ILH champions under legendary coach Cal Lee, winning the state title his junior year but missing out an a repeat championship after loosing to Kahuku in the finals
Graduated with a bachelor’s degree in ethic studies in December 2005
