Manaia Brown
Defensive Line 99
Ht/Wt
6'
4"
|
313 lbs.
Class
Senior
Hometown
West Valley City, 
Utah
Last School
U of Nebraska
Roster Years
2002-2005


Career Summary

Manaia Brown transferred to BYU from Nebraska after recording 12 tackles and five solo takedowns as a true freshman. He earned an All-Mountain West Conference honorable mention as a junior and was later named to the All-MWC Second Team his senior season. Brown recorded 31 tackles his final season at BYU, including nine solo and 22 assisted takedowns. The three-time letterwinner was also named the team defensive lineman of the year as a senior. Brown was part of a defensive unit that ranked third in rushing defense, allowing 139.3 yards per game.

Professional

  • Signed a free agent deal with the Washington Redskins in 2006

Personal

  • Parents are Toa and Vaifoa Brown
  • One of seven children
  • Married to Tupusina
  • Transferred from Nebraska following the 2001 season
  • Recruited by Utah, Illinois, Notre Dame, Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, Arizona and Arizona State.

Before BYU

Granger High School

  • Three-time all-state defensive lineman
  • Earned honorable-mention All-America honors from USA Today and SuperPrep in 1999
  • Recorded 25 sacks and over 70 tackles as a senior
  • An all-state selection
  • Earned Region II MVP honors

Nebraska

  • Saw action in nine regular-season games as a true freshman
  • Recorded 12 tackles on the season, including five solo takedowns
  • Credited with four tackles for a combined loss of 14 yards, including one sack for a 10-yard loss against Baylor
  • Twice recorded two tackles in games against Rice and Kansas
  • Tallied a career-high four takedowns against Colorado, including two solo tackles
  • In two series, recorded three tackles against Miami (Fla.) in the 2002 Rose Bowl

Stats

Yr    GP  UT  AT  Total  TFL/Yds   Sacks/Yds   
2003  6    5   9    14    2.0/4     0/0.0
2004 11   12  14    26    9.0/48    4.5/42
BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year

Sophmore Year 2003

  • Earned letterman honors as a sophomore
  • Saw limited action during the season while battling a nagging injury
  • Competed in six games
  • Credited with 14 tackles on the season, including five solo takedowns
  • Recorded a season-high six stops against Air Force
  • Credited with a quarterback hurry against Stanford
  • Also saw limited action during spring drills while recovering from an off-season injury
  • Named Defensive Player of the Game against Stanford
Junior Year 2004

  • Played in all 11 games, including eight starts during the season
  • Earned letterman honors as a junior
  • Earned All-Mountain West honorable mention
  • Credited with 26 tackles on the season, including 12 solo tackles
  • Ranked third on the roster with 9.0 tackles for a combined loss of 48 yards, including 4.5 sacks
  • Credited with a season-high five tackles against top-ranked USC
Senior Year 2005

  • Started in nine of the Cougars' 12 games
  • Saw action at both defensive end and nose tackle
  • Named second-team All-MWC
  • Named the team defensive lineman of the year
  • Earned letterman honors as a senior
  • Credited with 31 tackles on the season, including nine solo and 22 assisted takedowns
  • Registered a season-high five tackles against Boston College and Utah
  • Had 3.0 tackles for a combined loss of eight yards, including 1.5 sacks
  • Part of a defensive unit that ranked third in rushing defense, allowing 139.3 yards per game
  • Part of a defensive unit that ranked second in the MWC with a +4 turnover margin
  • A 2005 Preseason Mountain West All-Conference selection
  • Named a Preseason First-Team All-MWC performer by Lindy's Football Annuals, Phil Steele's College Football Preview, College Football News and Street & Smiths
  • Ranked as the second top NFL prospect in the Mountain West Conference by Lindy's Football Annuals
  • Ranked by Phil Steele's College Football Preview as the No. 25 defensive end in the country
  • Ranked by College Football News as the second best defensive end in the MWC
Graduate Year

Redshirt Year 2002

  • Redshirted the 2002 season after transferring from Nebraska
Medical Redshirt Year 2002

Redshirted the 2002 season after transferring from Nebraska.