When BYU defensive lineman Eathyn Manumaleuna of Anchorage suffered a nasty knee injury in Thursday’s 7-6 loss to Boise State, he was helped off the field for perhaps the final time.
The 6-foot-2, 288-pound senior tore the patella tendon in his left knee and is expected to miss the next three months.
Manumaleuna, of East High fame, will reportedly seek a medical redshirt this season in hopes of returning in 2013. But that’s up to the NCAA.
He has been a key figure for BYU in stopping the run. He has amassed 11 tackles, four tackles for a loss and two sacks.
Manumaleuna is a four-year starter during a strong career that got started all the way back in 2007.
That year he started every game at nose tackle as a true freshman and blocked UCLA’s 28-yard field goal attempt with three seconds on the clock to seal a 17-16 victory in the Las Vegas Bowl.
He missed the 2008 and 2009 seasons to serve a Mormon mission in Oklahoma City.
In 2010 he started 8 of 13 games and intercepted the first pass of his career against New Mexico.
In 2011 he started all 13 games at defensive end and was part of a BYU defense that ranked No. 19 in rushing defense (112.08 yards allowed).