'The Samoan Bulldozer' Garnering National Attention

Greer (SC) Greer inside linebacker Adam Ah Ching is earning a lot of attention on the recruiting trail, and with a nickname like "The Samoan Bulldozer", it would seem hard not to. The 6-1, 210-pound Ah Ching has picked up early offers from BYU, Colorado and Oregon State while schools like Notre Dame, Alabama, Cal, Clemson, LSU, Oregon, Penn State, South Carolina, South Florida, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington are showing serious interest.

One of the main things Ah Ching is letting college coaches know is his intent to serve his Mormon mission and how important that is to him, so that could play a factor in his recruitment.

"Any school that will let me serve my church mission, it's always been my dream to serve my mission," Ah Ching said. "It's always been my goal to let the coaches know that if they let me serve my mission I'll be interested in them.

"Some schools shy away from that because you leave for two years and some kids are out of shape. BYU is really not a favorite right now, it's just a matter of whatever school makes me a better person and is a great atmosphere for me."

Ah Ching, who has about 62 tackles (15 for loss) two sacks and a forced fumble this season, said that BYU "has always been like my dream school," and he camped with the Cougars this summer where he earned the defensive MVP award.

But he's keeping all of his options open and there are plenty of schools coming after the standout junior linebacker.

"LSU, Stanford, Notre Dame," said Ah Ching, who visited Clemson for a recent game. "I could go down the list."

Ah Ching also went to Oregon's camp this past summer and then made the short trip to Corvallis to check out Oregon State.

He already has the three early offers and also lists interest from Alabama, Cal, Penn State, South Carolina, South Florida, UCLA, USC, Utah and Washington. Many other schools should get involved as well.

"I'm having a great season," Ah Ching said. "Hopefully I get more offers and schools looking out for me after I send my highlight tape out."

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Taumoepeau Has Amazing Visit To ISU

Cerritos (CA) College defensive lineman Walton Taumoepeau’s visit to Iowa State this past weekend could not have gone any better.

“Everything was perfect and I really enjoyed it a lot,” said Taumoepeau. “It really cemented the fact that Iowa State is definitely the number one school that I think I will be going to. They need in help in the middle of their defensive line and we talked about me coming in and making an impact right away.”
The 6-foot-4, 295-pound defensive tackle has an offer from Iowa State but is also hearing from Washington, FIU, and Oregon State.

He told Cyclone Sports Report that while Iowa State is his clear favorite that he does not plan on making any decisions right away.

“I really like them now but I might want to take a few more visits,” said Taumoepeau. “I will probably make my decision by the end of the season.”

Walton feels that many things stuck out to as why he is so high on Iowa State.

“I really like the academic situation there and that fact that they have such a high graduation rate for their football players,” he said. “It really shows they care about you and that they really want you to graduate from college. I also like the environment because it’s different from what I am used to and the support they get from the fans is amazing.”

Walton also enjoyed getting to know Iowa State head coach Paul Rhoads.

“He keeps things real and you can tell that he really cares a lot about his players,” said Taumoepeau. “We got to talk one-on-one and he told me how much he really needs a big defensive tackle for next year’s team. He sees me as a run stopper and likes how I can hold up the middle of the line.”

Walton will be graduating this fall and is attending to be a part of spring practice at the school that he chooses during the next month or two.

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Cal The Leader For Moala & His Teammates

Villiami "Tiny" Moala

Faigame "Puka" Lopa

Moala, who goes by Vei, is part of one of the strongest prep defensive lines in recent memory, along with fellow linemen Darryl Paulo and Faigame Lopa. Last season Grant Union's defense allowed only 68 points and shut out six teams. The Pacers set a state record with 77 sacks.

Moala, now a senior and 6-foot-2 and 330 pounds, was called a bulldozer by one observer. He had 105 tackles and 15 sacks last season, earning the Sacramento Bee newspaper's All-Metro team defensive MVP honors.

Nicknamed "Tiny," Moala can bench a staggering 495 pounds. His coach, Mike Alberghini, likens his hands to shovels.

Alberghini likes to tell the story about how he often spotted Moala watching from the stands during the 2006 season. Eventually he had to ask the 300-pound kid why he wasn't playing football: Moala replied he was only 13.

Darryl Paulo

Four years ago, Moala never thought he’d even play football, let alone be in a starting lineup. While he liked watching Grant games on the weekends, he was first and foremost a rugby player. Moala’s family hails from Tonga, an island nation in the South Pacific that counts rugby as its national sport.

"It’s pretty big among the Polynesians here," Moala says.

But many athletes of Tongan descent — such as Haloti Ngata, a defensive lineman for the Baltimore Ravens who grew up in Inglewood — have also found success in football. It took some trickery to get Moala to join that group.

One day when Viliami was in the eighth grade, Sione [Moala's older brother] told him to grab his cleats for a rugby game. Sione then drove him to the park, dropped him off and kept driving. Turns out the rugby game was actually a practice for a youth football team. Sione had pulled a fast one on him.

But rather than try to find a way home, Moala decided to give football a shot. It’s a choice he’s glad he made. For starters, he met his best friend, Faigame "Puka" Lopa, who’s now a star senior defensive end/offensive tackle for Grant. And he realized he should’ve been playing football all along.

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Vei Moala, Total Domination!

When you size up Vei Moala, you have to stand back a few feet for the full view. He's that immense.

Grant High School's 6-foot-3, 330-pound lineman has size 16 feet and hands the size of "shovels," according to Pacers coach Mike Alberghini.

Wide shoulders, massive thighs, but no overhanging gut. He also has an engaging smile and a personality that belies his ferocious play.

Moala, who also was a force blocking up front on offense, had three sacks when Grant beat Bellevue, Wash., and also had three sacks in a CIF Sac-Joaquin Section playoff game. In another playoff game, Moala blocked one punt and on a different blocked punt he grabbed it out of the air and scored.

After first making a name for himself by plugging the middle and helping to stuff the Long Beach Poly running game during Grant's memorable win in the 2008 CIF Open Division state bowl game, Moala figures to be one of the very best college prospects in the nation next season.

And he's only a junior, meaning more to come. More sacks, more stops, more charisma for the popular Polynesian with a shock of curly hair.

"He's the total package," Alberghini said. "A leader, a good person, a good student, a great player. He's everything."

Moala, all of 16 years old, is a national recruit. One college head coach said, "He's the top defensive lineman prospect in the country right now."

Moala receives recruiting mail weekly from powerhouse programs such as Florida, Alabama, USC and others.

He was an impact player for Grant's defense despite every scheme thrown his way, including blockers diving at his ankles or knees in an attempt to slow him down.

At just 16 years old, the so-called monster in the middle recorded 104 tackles and 15 sacks as the Pacers' defense combined to set a state record for sacks in a season with 77. The Pacers' defense on the year also recorded eight shutouts and allowed an average of under six points per game despite at times resting Moala in the second half of blowout victories.

"I have to think about how teams block me because I see everything, and I still have to make a play," Moala said.

"I don't worry about it. Football is still fun."

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