Vince Manuwai facts for kids
Manuwai in 2005.
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| No. 67 | |||||||
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| Position: | Guard | ||||||
| Personal information | |||||||
| Born: | July 12, 1980 Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Died: | November 4, 2018 (aged 38) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S. |
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| Height: | 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m) | ||||||
| Weight: | 333 lb (151 kg) | ||||||
| Career information | |||||||
| High school: | Farrington (Honolulu, Hawaii) | ||||||
| College: | Hawaii | ||||||
| NFL Draft: | 2003 / Round: 3 / Pick: 72 | ||||||
| Career history | |||||||
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| * Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||||
| Career NFL statistics | |||||||
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Vincent Keoni Manuwai (born July 12, 1980 – died November 4, 2018) was an American football player. He played as a guard, a position on the offensive line that helps protect the quarterback and block for running backs. He was chosen by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2003 NFL Draft. Before joining the pros, he played college football for the University of Hawaii Warriors.
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Early Life and High School
Vince Manuwai was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. He went to Farrington High School in Honolulu. There, he was a talented athlete, earning awards in football, track and field, and even basketball.
In football, he was recognized as one of the best players in his conference and state. He also excelled in track and field, especially in throwing events like the shot put and discus throw. Vince Manuwai finished high school in 1999.
College Football Career
After high school, Manuwai attended the University of Hawaii. He played for the Hawaii Warriors football team. He was a starting player for three years and could play all positions on the offensive line.
He was known as one of the best players at protecting the quarterback. In his last 35 games as a starter, he never allowed an opponent to tackle the quarterback behind the line of scrimmage (called a sack). He also helped his team by knocking down opposing players 60 times. He received many honors, including being named a first-team All-America player by College Football News. He also earned the Warrior Club Award for being the team's best player.
Playing in the NFL
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars picked Vince Manuwai in the third round of the 2003 NFL Draft. He was the 72nd player chosen overall.
Manuwai was a very important player for the Jaguars, especially in helping their team run the ball well. For several seasons, he started almost every game for the Jaguars. With him as a guard, the Jaguars' offense gained many yards by running. For example, they rushed for over 2,500 yards in 2006 and nearly 2,400 yards in 2007.
In 2008, he had a serious injury to his knee, tearing both his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL). This meant he couldn't play for the rest of that season. He came back in 2009 and worked hard to recover. In 2010, he lost his starting spot for a short time but got it back when another player was injured. He then became a key part of the Jaguars' strong running game again.
On July 29, 2011, the Jaguars released Manuwai from their team.
Atlanta Falcons
The Atlanta Falcons signed Vince Manuwai on March 9, 2012. However, he was released by the team a few months later, on July 28, 2012.
Death
Vince Manuwai passed away on November 4, 2018, when he was 38 years old. He reportedly collapsed while moving into an apartment in Honolulu, Hawaii.
