The former American football player Roy Helu has been married to the love of his life, his wife, Danielle Mancuso, for more than 12 years.
The couple first met each other at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln in 2010. After two years, the duo tied the knot in a low-key ceremony.
Like her husband, Danielle is also from a sporting background. Roy’s wife is a retired professional volleyball player and fellow Nebraska Cornhusker alum.
Roy Ziegler Helu Jr. started playing football at an early age. Helu began with San Ramon Valley High School, earning first-team all-league honors in his senior year as a running back.
Helu rushed for over 1,000 yards at Nebraska in his last two years as a collegiate football player.
His professional NFL career began when Washington Redskins drafted him in the 2011 NFL Draft.
After four seasons with the Redskins, the running back signed a two-year contract with the Oakland Raiders in 2015.
The Tongan descent played until 2016 but later got waived from the team after suffering an injury.
Danielle Mancuso Is A Former Volleyball Player
The wife of former football player Danielle Mancuso is also a professional player. She played collegiate volleyball for the Nebraska Cornhuskers.
Dani began playing volleyball at her high school in Omaha Gross. She was the honorary captain of both the Lincoln Journal Star Super-State team and the Omaha World-Herald All-Metro squad in 2002.
Later, Mancuso joined the University of Nebraska in 2003 and emerged as one of the Huskers’ top performers during her freshman season.
Moreover, Dani played in three NCAA matches in 2004 during sophomore year.
The following year, as a junior, she earned first-academic All-Big 12 honors.
Mancuso was also a candidate for academic All-American honors with a 3.46 GPA in communication studies.
However, her significant collegiate achievement came in her senior year in 2006 when she helped Nebraska to a national title and two national finals appearances.
Before earning her undergraduate degree from Nebraska in May of 2007, Helu’s wife was a three-time First-Team Academic All-Big 12 and six-time 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll Member.
Additionally, Mancuso also played as an outside hitter for two seasons at Dresdner SC 1898, a German club.
Ex-Huskers To Life Partners: The Journey
Roy Helu entered the Husker training room following football practice on a fall day during his senior year. He would meet his future wife, Dani, there —a former Husker volleyball player returning for physical therapy.
They had a quick talk and left the room with Helu, who had a little crush on her. They had conversations in the practice room throughout the few weeks.
Beginning as friends, they stayed in touch long distance as Helu prepared for the NFL Draft while Dani returned to Germany in the winter of 2011.
However, the ex-huskers began spending time together the following summer, discussing their lives, family, and faith.
Later, the pair engaged in 2012 and tied the knot in a union of Husker standouts in Omaha, Nebraska.
The ceremony included close friends and family with former Husker football and volleyball players.
