As a result, the rookie admitted that he looks up to Sewell as he looks to begin his NFL journey.
“Yeah, I look up to Penei a lot,” Manu told local reporters after being drafted. “I do study a lot of his film. I think he’s the best tackle in the League right now. He moves so fluid for how big he is and not just that, but he’s an inspiration to the Polynesian community. I remember when I was in college, I watched his Draft Day process, and it was just basically a vlog of his whole day of being drafted.
“I remember he ended the vlog by saying, ‘Any Polynesian kids out there,’ and he named all the islands and I remember he said Tonga. He said, ‘If you kids out there want to make it to the NFL, you can truly make it if you put your mind to it.’ And I remember I was in my second year of college when he said that, and I remember him saying that. It really motivated me, and I told myself, ‘If one of my fellow Polynesian brothers can make it, which is him – and he’s giving me words of motivation, there’s no reason why I can’t do it either.’ So, he’s a true inspiration, not only to Samoa, but to the whole Polynesian community. And it’s great that I’ll be playing with a guy like that, and I just hope to soak up as much information and technique from him.”
At his recent press conference, Sewell expressed appreciation for those who look up to him. In three NFL seasons, he has wasted little time becoming one of the best at his position across the entire league.
With that, he now bears a responsibility to give back to those who try to emulate his journey from the Polynesian Islands to the NFL.
The veteran offensive lineman admitted that he has not yet met Manu, but did follow the rookie on social media. He looks forward to mentoring the young player.
