It was the swap heard 'round the world. Well, not really.
The New England Patriots announced Monday they signed rookie free agent defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna, a BYU product, and released rookie free agent Seali'i Epenesa, a defensive lineman out of UCLA.
Manumaleuna, 25, was originally signed by the New York Giants in May, but the 6-foot-2, 305-pounder was released in mid-June.
He played as a true freshman for BYU in 2007 and then served a two-year mission, returning to the starting lineup in 2010. After suffering an injury early in the year as senior in 2010, Manumaleuna was granted a medical redshirt year after suffering an injury early in the year as a senior in 2012 and came back to start all 13 games in 2013.
He finished his college career playing in 56 games and finishing with 143 total tackles and 5.5 sacks.
Epenesa, 22, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of UCLA in mid-June. The 6-foot-1, 310-pounder, played in 41 games and finished with 46 total tackles and one sack during his four-year college career. He played in 12 games with seven starts as a senior in 2013 and was credited with 16 tackles and one sack.
Epenesa, 22, was signed by the Patriots as a rookie free agent out of UCLA in mid-June. The 6-foot-1, 310-pounder, played in 41 games and finished with 46 total tackles and one sack during his four-year college career. He played in 12 games with seven starts as a senior in 2013 and was credited with 16 tackles and one sack.
