The New England Patriots signed rookie free agent defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna and released rookie free agent DL Seali’i Epenesa, the team announced Monday.
The 25-year-old Manumaleuna was signed by the New York Giants as a rookie free agent out of Brigham Young University in May, but was cut by the team on Saturday. The 6-foot-2, 305-pounder played in 56 games during his college career, recording 143 tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Manumaleuna played as a true freshman in 2007 before serving a two-year mission. He then returned to the Cougars’ starting lineup in 2010, but suffered a knee injury four games into his senior season in 2012 and was granted a medical redshirt. Manumaleua started all 13 games in 2013 and was also named to the FBS All-Independent First Team.
After going undrafted out of UCLA, the Patriots signed Epenesa in June. The 22-year-old finished with 46 tackles and one sack during 41 games in his four-year college career. Epenesa posted 16 tackles in seven starts as a senior.
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