Manase Hopoi attended Valley High School in Sacramento, California where he played linebacker on the Valley football team. He was named league MVP and outstanding defensive player in each of his final two years. He finished his career with 470 tackles and 37 sacks. He accepted a scholarship to play for the University of Washington. He spent the 2001 season on the scout team, earning “Mark Drennan Defensive Scout of the Year” honors. He was ineligible to participate in games as a partial qualifier and he later earned back that year of eligibility. The following season he started every game at defensive end, totaling 38 tackles and 7 sacks on the year. He led the team in tackles for loss with 17 on the season. In 2003 he started every game for the second consecutive season, finishing with 31 tackles and 4 sacks on the year. His junior season was his best season in college, finishing with career highs in tackles (54) and sacks (9). He led the team with 22 tackles for loss, just one tackle shy of the school record and he earned second team all-pac ten honors for his performance. As a senior, Hopoi finished with 33 tackles and 5 sacks on the season.

Manase Hopoi has a great deal of experience, having started the past four years at the University of Washington. He is a versatile player who was recruited as a linebacker and has played both defensive end and defensive tackle. He has pretty good strength and is a very physical player. He displays good technique and is a fundamentally sound tackler. He is a great run defender who makes a lot of plays behind the line of scrimmage. He has the ability to get to the quarterback with 25 sacks in his career at Washington. He is a bit of a defensive end/defensive tackle “tweener” and will need to improve his ability to shed blocks to be successful inside at the next level. He has done a good job of bulking up the past couple years. He will need to continue to bulk up and increase his strength but he does have the frame in which to do so. Hopoi has had some off the field problems. He received two years probation in 2004 for an assault charge after a bar fight. Manase Hopoi is a player who could project as a 4-3 defensive tackle or a 3-4 defensive end at the next level. He has a chance to be a late round pick in the 2006 NFL draft.