BYU Football Program Increases Efforts to Recruit Polynesians

Growing up in Samoa, Gabriel Reid was a decent football player and a member of the LDS faith. It was expected in Samoa that any player with talent who was a Mormon would play football at BYU.

"That's just the way it was back then," said Reid, who played for the Cougars from 2000-02 and the Chicago Bears from 2003-06. His brother Spencer also played for BYU.

Today, it appears BYU's football staff is trying take advantage of that interest by Polynesian families and their ties to the church. Many big and small college football programs have tapped into Polynesian athletic talent over the decades.

University of Utah defensive tackle Star Lotulelei, who committed to BYU out of Bingham High, is projected by some to be the No. 1 pick in the 2013 NFL draft.

Recruiting Polynesia? Local talent?

Nobody does it better than Utah and BYU.

It appears BYU is working hard to use its advantages and shift more attention to how it manages and approaches players of Polynesian descent.

Head coach Bronco Mendenhall recently dispatched offensive coordinator Brandon Doman to Samoa for a goodwill tour.

"They rolled out the red carpet for him," said Reid.

For BYU and Utah, recruiting South Pacific bloodlines has paid off big time and is a mainstay of their respective football programs. Of Utah's seven commitments for 2013 so far, it appears six recruits pledged are of Polynesian decent. Of BYU's 19, eight fall into this ethnic group.

For Mendenhall, recruiting the Polynesian community should be like fishing in a barrel because of the LDS tradition among two and three generations of immigrants.

If BYU fails to cultivate, manage and reap the benefits, it is a major failure.

Census records show in 1990 there were 3,904 Tongans in Utah. That number doubled to 8,665 in 2000. The next decade the Tongan numbers in the state increased by 52 percent to 13,235. While Samoan migration to Utah started much slower, it has caught up and an equal number from that country now reside in Utah.

Most Tongans and Samoans who moved to Utah did so because of the LDS faith. Both countries have LDS high schools and the church recently closed a similar campus in Hamilton, New Zealand. Combine that with popular BYU-Hawaii, and the church educational system has proved a major part of the lives of LDS faithful in the South Pacific.

It has been reported that 46 percent of the Kingdom of Tonga is LDS. There is a higher per capita of LDS in Tonga than any country in the world.

This past month, Mendenhall invited LDS leaders of Utah's Polynesian stakes to meet with him. "He reached out to stake presidents and other ecclesiastical leaders who were Polynesian. He explained his vision and how much he needs their help in making sure those who are interested in what BYU has to offer, has that opportunity. He explained the standards, academic policies," said Reid, a member of the Provo Wasatch Tongan Stake high council.

"It takes a village to raise a child," said Reid. "Mendenhall said if he has a football player who is struggling, he wants to reach out to their stake president, who can make some phone calls in the community to rally and help. This was a great move by Bronco."

There are three Tongan LDS stakes in Utah. The Provo Wasatch Tongan Stake stretches from Lehi to Santaquin in Utah County. It includes eight wards and two branches, and four of the units are Samoan.

Reid sees the recent hire of former Cougar running back Mark Atuaia as an assistant athletic director at BYU as a move by the school to reach out to the Polynesian community as a specialist, a liaison that is long overdue.

Atuaia, one of Hawaii's most celebrated high school stars while at powerhouse Kahuku High on the North Shore of Oahu, is Samoan and beloved from Laie to Provo. He has a best-selling CD as a singer in Hawaii and his wife was the lead singer for the Jets when that rock group was popular more than a decade ago.

This move followed the trip by Doman to Samoa, where he told gatherings of athletes and coaches and their parents the importance of Polynesian football players to BYU's program.

"For BYU, coming on the island to recruit is only a natural thing for us to do. Our roots and our foundation of Polynesian culture has been here for years and years at BYU," Doman told the Deseret News after his whirlwind trip to American Samoa.

"We have 37 Polynesian kids on our team, more than anybody in the country. It had been a few years since we had been (to American Samoa). It was very important that we return to the island. There are fans, alumni and former players on that island that are supportive of BYU football and BYU in general. If there's ever a place of great resource in the Polynesian community, that is the place. That was the reason for the trip out there. Hopefully we'll find a handful of kids over the next few years that will come here to BYU."

Whatever shortcomings BYU has shown in past years with Polynesian relations since LaVell Edwards left the program, it appears to Reid and others, the school is addressing those issues.

Mendenhall recently asked Reid and other former Cougar players to meet with a Polynesian prospect on campus and explain their experiences. "He ended up committing to Mendenhall," said Reid of the local prospect. "I think meeting with alums helped with him and his parents."

BYU just employed Jason Kaufusi, brother of D-line coach Steve Kaufusi, as a graduate assistant coach as Samoan Shawn Nu'a accepted a job at Navy after completing his graduate work on the football staff.

In staffing a major college football staff with Polynesians, few have done as well as Kyle Whittingham at Utah. Counting defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake, others with South Pacific ties include fullbacks/tight end coach Ilaisa Tuiaki, defensive line coach Chad Kauha'aha'a and strength and conditioning coach Doug Elisaia.

Utah's staff has proved a great asset to Ute Polynesian players and the success is all over Utah's record since Whittingham followed Urban Meyer, although it is an emphasis that dates back to the Ron McBride era.

Both BYU and Utah have tapped Polynesian players for half a century. But there might be more of an onus on BYU to do so, noting its unique religion card. It must be a specialty.

In this regard, BYU has room to grow. The recent hire of Atuaia as an assistant athletic director to Tom Holmoe, speaks to that need.

"Former ASU star and Oakland Raider Junior Ioane has volunteered to help with the BYU football team," said Reid. "He loves BYU."

Officially, BYU doesn't utilize volunteers due to possible infractions, and although Ioane has been seen working out on campus, his presence is unofficial.

So, in the past six months since BYU defeated Tulsa in a bowl game, has BYU developed an enhanced strategy in recruiting Polynesian football players?

"Absolutely," said Reid. "No question."

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Family Ties Bond Misi

Dolphins rookie and assistant strength coach Dave Puloka are third cousins

They had no idea of their connection. Not a single clue.

Not before the NFL Draft, when the Miami Dolphins were preparing to take Koa Misi in the second round as Jason Taylor's successor.

Not during rookie minicamp, when the Utah product showed up and began in earnest the process of reshaping his body to outside linebacker standards in a 3-4 NFL defense.

It was only after Misi returned from a celebratory dinner back in Utah with some distant relatives he'd barely even met that Dave Puloka connected the dots.
Puloka, in his third season as the Dolphins' assistant strength and conditioning coach, was working the rookie hard in the weight room during OTA's when Misi casually mentioned they were related.

"My family said they know you," Misi said.

"Oh, really," replied Puloka, also of Tongan extraction. "Who's your family?"

As soon as Misi said the name "Lavulo," Puloka knew. He checked out this unknown branch of the family tree with his cousin Lisa Lavulo, who confirmed it from Los Angeles.

"This is a couple of generations, so the exact connection, we're not entirely sure," Puloka says. "It's a little confusing."

Sione Misi, Koa's father, says they are basically third cousins.

As best they can establish, the connection dates back to Melenaite Misi, Koa's 67-year-old paternal grandmother, and Latu Puloka, the coach's late grandfather.

The Lavulo branch traces back to Ha'apai, one of the smaller islands in the South Pacific chain of 148 tiny land masses – "depending on high tide/low tide," Puloka says —that make up Tonga.

If there are 100,000 residents of Tonga as a whole, there might be no more than 5,000 on Ha'apai. And now two men with roots on that island are working for the same NFL team.

What are the odds?

"It's been weird to find that out," says Misi, who grew up in Santa Rosa, Calif., while Puloka, 31, spent part of his childhood on the island.

Not that it buys Misi any quarter when it comes to conditioning.

"I don't give him any special treatment or anything," Puloka says. "If anything I might be harder on him."

Their connection does lead to some zingers in between squats.

"I joke with him a little bit," says Puloka, who has worked under head strength coach Evan Marcus the past six years. "I'll say, 'If you slack off, I might call up your grandmother and tell on you.' "

Keeping weight on has been the issue for Misi, who was drafted at 244 pounds and has since packed on about 10 pounds of muscle with Puloka's help.

"He's good," Misi says. "Both the strength coaches will push you to your limits and make sure you're doing the right thing. I talk to Dave about eating right."

Seeing Misi now, Puloka can recognize the same family traits that helped him play defensive end at Holy Cross and attend Bengals training camp as an undrafted free agent in 2001.

"Certainly he's a high-motor guy," Puloka says. "His work ethic is tremendous. I'd like to think that runs in the family."

Misi isn't even the only Tongan on the Dolphins. Offensive guard Ray Feinga, on the practice squad, has Tongan roots as well. Fellow outside linebacker Ikaika Alama-Francis is Hawaiian, and nose tackle Paul Soliai is Samoan.

"We've got a Polynesian contingent here," Puloka says. "I kind of talk up the Tongans a little bit. I told Ray he's got some standards to live up to."

Misi, with a sack and a fumble recovery for a touchdown through his first two games, is certainly meeting those standards.

His third cousin couldn't be more proud. Same for the whole Lavulo wing of the family Misi never knew.

"You have to understand the cultural aspects of it," Puloka says. "Even in Tonga, there's no distinction between brother and cousin. It's one and the same. You take care of everybody."

Especially the rookies.

"You hear about the expression, 'You're raised by the town' or 'It takes a village,' well, it really does,." Puloka says. "It's a huge community. If you're related, whether you're second cousin, third cousin, it really doesn't matter. In that culture you're considered brother, sister, very close sibling."
 
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Koa Misi Memories Gush From Viking Teammates & Coaches

We are going back now, going back six, seven years, when Koa Misi wasn’t a second-round NFL draft choice, when he was a high school football player. We are going back in time for glimpses of that talent which made Misi the 40th pick in the recent draft, images that will make you wish you were there to see him. Like the pinwheel moment.

About five football players, Misi among them, were in the Montgomery weight room, horsing around. As what happens sometimes when teenage testosterone rubs up against another kid who has a strong case of it, things got a little rough.

“Koa sent four kids flying out of the weight room, one right after another, fast, like a pinwheel was turning, spitting them out,” said Jason Franci, Montgomery’s head coach.

With ease, by the way. Franci didn’t hear any grunting from Misi, only from the teammates who landed.

“With ease”, now that’s the phrase I found to be used most commonly about Misi by his ex-teammates and ex-coaches at Montgomery. “With ease.” It wasn’t just what Misi did that was superior, it was how he did it. He did it with ease.

“After a game,” said Todd Vehmeyer, Montgomery’s defensive coordinator, “I’m standing with my back to the locker room door. And remember, I weigh 260 pounds. I’m not small. Koa comes up behind me, picks me up and gives me a bear hug that knocks the wind out of me. Koa? He’s not even breathing hard. You probably heard of someone being ‘country strong’. Well, Koa is island strong.”

Misi, of Tongan descent, created memories of his strength not by walking around and flexing his biceps. To the contrary, he was, still is, modest by nature. Oh yes, those memories came naturally.

“His dad, Sione, was in the tree business,” said Frank Scalercio, Montgomery’s assistant coach, “and one day I was out with Koa and Sione helping them. The back of the end of the truck got stuck in the mud. Koa and Sione lifted up the back end of the truck so I could slide a piece of wood underneath for traction. I remember thinking to myself, ‘Are you kidding me?’”

The truly gifted athlete — this is true of any sport but especially in football — forms the appearance of being twice as big, twice as fast, twice as strong. His very presence creates that enlarged bubble of awe around him.

It happened on the football fields of Sonoma County. The opposition was aware of Misi. Offenses constantly tracked him when he played defensive end. There would be times when a running back or a receiver or a quarterback would see Misi coming.

“And they would freeze, like a deer in the headlights,” Scalercio said. “It might be only for a second but it would be a mistake. Koa won’t slow down. He would just go through you.”

The results would be predictable because the results would be painful.

“On two consecutive plays against Casa,” said Jeremy Avilla, then a Montgomery safety, “Koa knocked players out of the game. One had a broken arm and missed most of the season.”

Nearly every person I interviewed about Misi remembered at least one game in which a player had to leave after a Misi tackle. He did it not to cripple but just to answer that need he had inside him — to play hard and fast on every play. Misi was developing a legend of awe, borne not only of what he did on the field but what he did off it.

Franci has a wooden platform. It’s three-feet high, two-feet wide. At the beginning of each season Franci asks his players to jump on it. He wants to see athletic ability.

“Each season I have four of five players who can land on the platform,” Franci said. “Koa is the only player I ever coached who jumped OVER it.”

Jumping is an important skill not just for a basketball player. It reveals flexibility, or a lack of it.

“Koa’s dad had this monster truck, with its flatbed maybe four feet off the ground,” Scalercio said. 

“We had to go somewhere one day and his dad said, ‘Koa, get in the back.’ Because the tailgate was so high, people hoisted themselves up. Koa? He jumped from a standing position and landed in the back. Like it was no big deal. Like he did it all the time. He looked like a gazelle. I mean it. And what I remember most, his landing was soft. I just shook my head. Couldn’t believe it.”

So he was a teenager, 6-foot-2, 225 pounds, island strong, a gazelle-type leaper, lover of contact. What else?

“Koa was so quick,” said Marcus Ezeff, a Montgomery teammate, now trying out with the New York Jets, “he’d catch people without them seeing him, and he’d cream them. He did it to this one kid at Casa and the kid just laid there the longest time. It was the kind of speed you see in college. I was always happy I never was on the opposite line of scrimmage.”

So what did Misi lack? Nothing.

“Koa reminded me a lot of Jerry Robinson,” Franci said of the ex-Cardinal Newman star who played 13 years in the NFL.

“Sure, yeah, we’d like to say the coaches made Koa a great player,” Vehmeyer said. “But that’s not true. Not with Koa. He was there already. And he was a great teammate.”

Misi never big-timed his high school buddies when he went to Utah or when the Dolphins drafted him last week. Fact is, he concealed his talent, his skills. He was, and is, the textbook definition of humble.

“That’s why when Koa was drafted,” Ezeff said, “it felt like I was drafted, too. We all root for Koa.”

Vehmeyer has a special rooting interest in Misi.

“I meet with my kids at the beginning of the year,” Vehmeyer said, “and I tell them, ‘You’re not going to play in the NFL but if by some chance you do, I want season tickets.’ I reminded Koa of that this week and all Koa said, ‘Coach, I don’t remember you saying that.’”

Vehmeyer laughed when he told the story. He doesn’t need the tickets. In fact, he could even say that Misi won’t show him anything in the NFL that he hasn’t seen already. Catch someone from behind like the guy was standing still? Drive through a ball carrier like he’s cotton candy? Run sideline-to-sideline like an obsessed border patrolman?

Yep, Vehmeyer’s been there. Seen that. Applauded. Gawked. Once, Koa Misi was a man among boys. Like Vehmeyer or Franci or Ezeff would say, you should have been there. A 225-pound blur of a hammer isn’t seen in these parts all that often.

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Miami Dolphins Select Koa Misi w/ The 40th Overall Pick

Koa Misi: Utah Utes' Highlights
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With the 40th pick in the 2010 NFL Draft, the Miami Dolphins have selected Utah outside linebacker Koa Misi.

Misi was a defensive end in Utah but will transition to linebacker in Miami's defense. Note that Mike Mayock does believe Misi could transition to inside linebacker as well as outside linebacker in this defense. More versatility for the Dolphins.

Solid pick. I like it.

Below is Koa Misi's scouting report from DraftCountdown.com:

Strengths:
Outstanding motor and gives excellent effort --- Very athletic --- Quick and agile with great balance --- Super explosive with a burst --- Terrific strength --- Uses his hands well --- Comfortable in space --- Appears to have fluid hips --- A hard worker --- Versatile --- Still has a lot of upside.

Weaknesses:
Just average size --- Questionable instincts --- Has trouble getting off blocks --- Not a great run defender --- Inconsistent --- Minor durability concerns --- Mediocre sack production --- May not have a  true position.

Koa Misi, Just What The Patriots Need?

Utah's Koa Misi is 6-3, 251 lbs with a lot of upside. Playing 3 years for Utah, he has the experience that Belichick loves. With the Patriots needed a pass rush specialist, Misi could come in and play that role as a rookie. Misi was never asked to drop into coverage during college, which makes him just as much of a project as Ricky Sapp and the other second round OLB/DE prospects. While the first round players of Sergio Kindle and Brandon Graham played some OLB in college, Misi was mainly a pass rusher- which means that he wouldn't be expected to drop into coverage successfully from the get go if the Patriots selected him. He has a nose for the ball, but is more of a run chaser than run stopper as he tackles the running backs after they make it out of the back field. Misi can disrupt the QB's actions, which is what the Patriots need.

His measurements and some quotes after the jump.

WalterFootball.com Scouting

Height: 6-3. Weight: 251.
Projected 40 Time: 4.74.
Combine 40 Time: 4.69.
Vertical: 38.

CBSSports.com Scouting

03/13/2010 - TOP RATED NFL DRAFT SCOUT OUTSIDE LINEBACKERS: Koa Misi, Utah, 6-3, 251, 2: He is a pick-your-poison type of athlete who is powerful enough to take on and shed a blocker on the spot and fast enough to run around you and chase down his victim. Put that together with excellent instincts, a high-rev motor and team-leader type personality, and this prospect should fit well on somebody's roster. A standout in his one year at Santa Rosa (Calif.) Junior College, Misi then moved on to terrorize opponents for three more years with the Utes. Misi impressed scouts at the Senior Bowl with his overall ability. - Frank Cooney, The Sports Xchange, NFLDraftScout.com/CBS Sports/USA TODAY

NFL.com Scouting

Misi has good size and strength for the linebacker position. He has played both with his hand in the dirt as well as in a stand up position. He is a tough, hard-nosed competitor that will fit best as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 defense. Misi will need some work reading route progressions and will be a liability in pure man coverage. Wright is an aggressive defender that attacks the line of scrimmage to disrupt the run as well as rush the passer effectively. Misi is a good football player that will take some time to transition into the linebacker position, but should contribute on special teams as well as a backup as a rookie.

Strengths

Misi has the look, size and strength of an outside linebacker in a 3-4. Displays the toughness needed to hold the point of attack. Is a productive, smart player who always finds ways to contribute. Has the versatility to stand up or play with his hand down. No questions about his durability. 

Weaknesses

Only possesses average coverage skills and has limited experience in this area. Is more comfortable playing in a crowd, lacks some agility in space and grasps for air on occasion. Can struggle containing shifty backs on the perimeter. Is an inconsistent reactor, especially when reading in coverage.

MockingtheDraft.com Scouting

Pass coverage: Misi showed during Senior Bowl practices that he has the hip fluidity to turn and run with tight ends. Whether he can translate that into actual gameplay is an unknown. He rarely was used in coverage as an end for Utah. But when he did drop back, he got decent depth.

Pass rush: Is a disruptive pass rusher, even though his numbers may not indicate it. Finished a three-year career with 26 tackles for a loss and 11 sacks. But Misi does a good job of hustling and getting his hands into passing lanes.

Versatility: Misi largely played end for Utah, but he did play out of a two-point stance on occasion. He projects as a 3-4 linebacker because he doesn't have great size and may get neutralized by offensive linemen who don't let players get under their pads. Should be an asset on special teams.

Verdict: Misi isn't as polished of an outside linebacker as Sergio Kindle or Graham, but it upside makes him just as interesting of a prospect. I would say that Misi has the same ceiling as Kindle, with a lower ceiling than Graham. However, selecting a DE/OLB in the 2nd round would be a project regardless of who we selected- except for potentially Eric Norwood. Are we willing to take on a project in the 2nd round? It's a big risk. While I think we'll be taking an OLB in the 2nd round, I think we'll either take a player who is either more polished (Norwood), or one with greater potential (Sapp).

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Kendrick Moeai's TE Position Becoming More Prevalent in Utes' Offense

Tight ends haven't been targeted much in Utah's offense.

Last season, the position accounted for just nine catches and 103 yards. A meager contribution considering the Utes finished with a total 245 receptions for 2,980 yards through the air.

Things began to change, however, in Utah's 37-27 win over California in the Poinsettia Bowl. Tight end Kendrick Moeai doubled his receptions total over the first 12 games with a pair of touchdown catches in the first half.

The usage carried over into the Utes' first spring scrimmage. Moeai hauled in a 9-yard scoring strike from quarterback Jordan Wynn.

Of the 31 passes completed last Friday, five were caught by tight ends. Moeai and Westlee Tonga each made two while Brad Clifford had one.

"The tight end is becoming more and more prevalent in our offense, and that's a trend that will continue," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "We think we're going to have a strong group of tight ends this fall."

The cast includes Moeai (6-5, 236), Tonga (6-4, 225), Clifford (6-4, 248) and returning LDS Church missionary Dallin Rogers (6-4, 230). Tonga and Rogers are freshmen. Moeai is a sophomore and Clifford a senior.

"For a few years, we were pretty lean at tight end," Whittingham said. "Now we've built those numbers back up and those players are doing a good job."
And the Utes plan to capitalize on it.

"They're big targets. They provide some mismatch opportunities for our offense on opposing defenses," Whittingham said. "It just gives you some flexibility that you don't have in the four-wide sets."

It's all tied to production, he added, and if the tight ends continue to produce, they'll be a big part of the offense this season.

Moeai acknowledges the prospect has everyone motivated.

"I couldn't be happier," he said while noting that the position group is working hard to play a bigger role in the offense.

Moeai and Clifford have been pushing each other for a couple of years now and share a mutual respect. They come to practice each day determined to show what they've got.

As the current front-runner on the depth chart, Moeai is making the most of the opportunity.

"When you go from not doing anything at all to coming up and doing as many reps as I started getting at the end of the year, you just start busting your butt harder in practice and just keep pushing," he explained.
It's an ongoing process, however.

Whittingham isn't quite ready to say the two-touchdown performance in the Poinsettia Bowl was a coming-out party for Moeai and his abilities.

"We'll find out. We've known he's a good athlete. He's continued to add size and strength to his frame," Whittingham said. "Now he's to the point where he looks like a Division I tight end. He runs very well."

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Ex-Montgomery Star Koa Misi Suddenly On NFL Radar

The clock is ticking down now for Koa Misi, only hours away until he is poked and prodded, measured and weighed, inspected to the point that if a NFL team were to ask him to open his mouth to check for cavities, no one would think twice.

It's the 2010 NFL Combine, pro football's version of a beauty contest, where every prospect wants to appear attractive, even down to a big, white toothy smile.

"I'm good to go," said Misi, who starred at Montgomery, then later for SRJC and Utah. "I'm so ready to go."

Misi will leave Friday for the Combine in Indianapolis, a news event in and of itself. It was just five years ago that Misi didn't play football for a year. He wearied of the college recruiting process coming out of Montgomery. He took a break. The NFL, of course, likes its players obsessed, zealots preferably, and it doesn't take lightly or forgets for that matter a premium talent taking a year off from the sport.

"It's probably because I took a year off," Misi said, as to why until very recently he wasn't even on anyone's draft list. "Maybe that's it."

But if a player has talent, the NFL will find him. The league will let bygones be bygones if he possesses the necessary size, speed, power, agility and instincts.

It will nod most favorably that Misi, 6-foot-3, 244 pounds, has been training nine hours a day, six days a week since Jan. 4 at Athletes Performance Institute in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, one of three such facilities in the U.S. that specializes in the care, feeding and tutoring of professional athletes.

"I've been working out with a lot of prospects down here," Misi said. "A tight end for USC, a defensive end from Washington, a guard from Georgia, a defensive back from Fresno State and a defensive end from Stanford (Eric Long)."

That's the kind of fixated commitment that impresses NFL teams -- and makes them forgive and forget that year off. Intensity, of course, matters little without the skills, and Misi opened a lot of eyes with a stellar Senior Bowl performance in January.

Misi sacked Tim Tebow, Florida's Heisman Trophy winner, playing most of the game as an outside linebacker.

"I thought I did pretty well," Misi said. "I was pretty happy with what I did."

Misi, 23, rarely has been one to march in a one-man parade, sounding off to whomever would listen. Enter Kenny Zuckerman, his agent, who is more than willing to pick up the slack.

"Koa has gone from a player who wasn't even rated to someone who is draftable," Zuckerman said. "With the 3-4 defense so prevalent now in the NFL, the hardest position to fill is the outside linebacker. That guy has to be a special player. He has to be fast enough and quick enough to cover tight ends and running backs coming out of the backfield. But he is also has to be big enough and strong enough to handle those offensive linemen and rush the passer.

"Koa is that guy. He has that ability to coil like a snake and strike. Koa reminds me a lot of a guy I represented last year, David Veikune (Hawaii) who went in the second round. And Koa is even more athletic than David."

Zuckerman is Misi's agent and should talk like that. But Zuckerman is not straying too far from conventional wisdom surrounding Misi. On

NFLDraftScout.com, Misi is referred to thusly: "Very good football instincts . . . explosive coming off the edge . . . punches lineman coming out to block . . . gets through trash to find the ball . . . very fluid in his drops . . . turns hips and gets deep quickly . . . good ball awareness . . . excellent tackler . . . will be force on special teams . . . plays through the whistle . . . high character player praised by his coaches for work ethic."

"Because there are a lot of juniors coming out this year, Koa will be drafted in the second round," Zuckerman said. "But if this was last year, Koa would be taken in the first round. He's that strong of a player."

Zuckerman is so convinced that Misi has a NFL future that he paid for Misi's entire stay at the API for the last eight weeks. Misi is doing everything to reciprocate, lowering his time in the 40 from 4.6 to 4.5, increasing his bench-press repetitions with 225 pounds from 20 to 25.

It is, however, the Combine. No contact will occur. A player make look like Tarzan but play like Jane. It always has been the knock against the Combine, too much emphasis placed on numbers, with no way to judge instincts and intensity. Misi, as evidenced on game film, has an abundance of both, now that he has settled into the position that feels like a second skin to him.

"I'm going to go back and play linebacker like I did in high school," Misi said. 

"It's what I wanted to do for a while."

Zuckerman said he thinks Misi will fall somewhere between the 50th and 60th pick in the April draft.

"His performance in the Senior Bowl really gave a lot of validity to his talent," Zuckerman said. "I haven't heard a buzz like this on a kid in a long time."

Many miles remain for Misi to make a NFL roster and then to be a contributor. But now the NFL is on Misi's horizon, not some far-off dream, like one day I'll date Jessica Biel, too. Misi now allows himself the momentary luxury to think of where he would like to play in the NFL, with the last team listed as of particular interest to Bay Area fans.

"It doesn't really matter to me where I play but I always wanted to play in San Diego," he said. "I wouldn't mind playing for the Steelers or the Ravens either. And San Francisco, maybe."

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Asiata: "Very Good Shot" at 6th Year

The Salt Lake Tribune reports that "Utah's compliance directors have been told that running back Matt Asiata (ACL) has a very good chance at receiving a waiver" that would allow him to play a 6th year.

If Asiata does return he'll team with Eddie Wide to provide the Utes with a very formidable running back duo.

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Project One Hope

The University of Utah Student-athlete Advisory Committee, the Utah Alumni Association and the Polynesian Coaches Association are teaming up for a project called "Project One Hope" during Saturday's Utah-Air Force game. Members of each group will be collecting donations for families affected by the recent earthquake and tsunami that devastated the islands of American Samoa, Samoa and Tonga.

Many of Utah's football players have ties to the islands and some lost family members in the tragedy.

Aiono Won't Join Utes Until '10

James Aiono, Snow College's highly touted defensive lineman who signed with the Utes and was expected in camp this week, won't join the team until January due to some remaining academic requirements he must meet, according to Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.

Aiono, a 6-foot-3, 280-pound All-American, was expected to contend for a starting role. He'll still have two years of eligibility remaining.

Two other JC transfers, receiver Ray Magee and defensive back Maxwell Lacy, are also finishing academic work and won't be with the team when camp opens Wednesday but are expected to join the team for the 2009 season.

The Utes report Wednesday and hold their first practice on Thursday. Practices are closed to the general public.

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Asiata Getting Heavier Load

The trimmed-down senior running back sets his sights on a 1,000-yard season.

Lighter, faster, stronger. That's the way Matt Asiata sees himself heading into the 2009 season for the Utah Utes.

Asiata, expected to carry the Utes' running game this season instead of splitting time with another back as he did in 2008 with Darrell Mack, has dropped 10 to 12 pounds to about 220.

The 5-foot-11 senior has noticed a difference in Utah's early practices.

"I wanted to finish out my senior year good, so I dropped some weight and I feel a lot faster," he said.

While rushing for 1,000 yards is one of his goals, so too is staying on the field.

Asiata, who prepped at Hunter High before attending Snow College for two seasons, has struggled with injuries. In 2007 his highly anticipated debut was cut short just four carries into the season when he broke his leg at Oregon State.

Going into 2008, Asiata was slowed by a foot injury that hindered him most of camp.

He still rushed for 707 yards and 12 touchdowns on 146 carries, but didn't feel as strong as he would have liked early in the season.

"I had that broken bone and it sucked," he said of the first few games. "I just had to get over it, though, think about my family and kids and wife every time I played and just made sure I came to play my game. I want to avoid anything like that this year."

The Utes hope he can stay healthy, too, for a number of reasons. With the graduation of Mack, the Utes are searching for a capable No. 2 running back. Veteran Eddie Wide and redshirt freshman Sausan Shakerin are competing for the spot. Secondly, the Utes have made it clear they will rely on Asiata's running game early in the season to take pressure off the starting quarterback.

"He has stepped up and taken on more of a leadership role," Utah coach Kyle Whittingham said. "He is much quicker and much faster and he's going to get the vast majority of carries."

While Asiata said he's excited to know the team will depend on him, he doesn't mind sharing carries, either.

"Football is still an 11-man game," he said. "I'm going to need Eddie Wide and Shak to back me up, but it's good to be the primary guy. It's a lot of pressure, but it makes me want to perform good every practice and every rep."

Both Asiata and the coaches believe his trimmer shape will help him this year, particularly since the Utes are going to stress a quicker offense. Asiata excelled last year in the "Asiata formation," and is eager to show what he can do so this year, especially if he can stay healthy.

"I'm taking every practice seriously and I can't wait to get out there," he said. "I want to get through fall camp and be ready for Utah State."

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Former BYU Signee Headed to Utes

Utah has landed a Class of 2010 pledge from Star Lotulelei, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound defensive lineman from Bingham (South Jordan, Utah / Snow CC, Utah.) Lotulelei originally signed with BYU as a prep.

Lotulelei has good power in his lower body and can be very disruptive. He has good initial burst and quickness and relies on brute strength to overpower blockers. He will normally pick a side when he plays on the nose and is extremely effective when going to his right. He gets good push when working inside verses guards and tackles. He shows good use of hands, grabs cloth and throws blockers out of the way. He works well down the line and is a physical tackler. He demonstrates the ability to get penetration and influence plays behind the line of scrimmage. He keeps his feet moving to the quarterback and has decent closing speed. The problem with Lotulelei is that he plays to high. He has a squatty stance that causes him to stand up at the snap. He likes to pop up and peak into the backfield instead of staying down behind his pads and having faith in his key. He has been able to overwhelm players at the high school level with his power and quickness but will have to learn to play with leverage in college. You would like to see him be more consistent with his pursuit angles. He must develop the conditioning level to be an every down player whos motor runs hot. Overall, Lotulelei has good upside because of his raw strength and power. He has the frame to add bulk but he must be taught to play with leverage and react to blocking schemes.

Pela on the Fast Track

Joape Pela is a 6-foot-2-inch, 300-pound defensive tackle prospect from Foothill Junior College. While growing up Pela was the self-described “Big Man on Campus” and admittedly got a big head, not focusing on what was important throughout his high school years at Mountain View High School in California.

“I wasn’t that smart in high school, I just messed around, partied too much and I paid for it," explained Pela. “I thought I was all that and I could do whatever I wanted and I’d be fine, so I graduated late and I wasn’t able to qualify for Division I football, although I was certainly good enough to play wherever I wanted out of high school.”

Pela got the usual letters, phone calls and visits from coaches early on during the recruiting process. Schools such as BYU, UCLA, Oregon and Boise State were among those showing interest, but everyone soon backed off of him when it was learned that he’d have no chance to qualify.

“That was a tough thing for me and definitely opened my eyes," said Pela. “All I had to do was graduate and get decent grades and I could have gone wherever I wanted out of high school, but I just screwed around and it didn’t happen.”

Like most top-flight non-qualifiers, Pela looked to start up at junior college and hopefully play Division I football afterwards. But unlike most junior college athletes, Pela wasn’t content to spend the normal two years getting his degree and subsequently using up at least two years of his eligibility.

Pela hit the books hard from day one at Foothill Junior College and has not let up. He is now eligible to transfer to a Division I program after just one year of junior college play.

“I’ve taken at least 18 credit hours since I first got here," said Pela. “I had two semesters where I took 20 hours because even though I love Foothill, this isn’t where I want to be. I’m a Division I player and I wanted to get to Division I football as fast as I possibly could.”

Mission accomplished, as Pela is set to graduate early and have four years to play three at whatever Division I program he chooses to transfer to. For Pela it’s been a busy year, but one that he’s reaping the benefits from now that he has many offers to choose from upon his graduation.

“It struck me out of high school that this is for real," said Pela. “Screwing around was over. I needed to get going and I wanted to get going as fast as I possibly could. Now I have some good offers and things are going to work out. It’s hectic, but I’m very glad that I’ve made the decisions to put me where I’m at now and make up for all that lost time in high school.”

Pela’s would-be suitors include BYU, Utah, Arizona State, Oregon, Louisville and Houston. He visited BYU this past week and puts BYU on top of his list along with Utah, Oregon and Arizona State.

Pela enjoyed his visit and could definitely see himself transferring to BYU by the end of the month.

“I felt comfortable there," noted Pela about BYU. “I spent a lot of time with their defensive line coach [Steve] Kaufusi and I really liked him. He’s a very down-to-earth type of guy and someone I’d love to learn from. He’d make me a better player, I know that. I could definitely see myself at BYU.”

Pela is LDS and notes that he is certainly drawn to BYU because of that.

“I’m not into partying anymore. That’s done, in the past," said Pela. “BYU certainly is a place where I could continue to concentrate on what is important, which is not only growing as a football player, but as a person and getting a good education.”

Pela plans on pursuing a degree in kinesiology, and if his class work at Foothill is any indication, Pela should be earning that degree sooner rather than later.

Pela also was made aware of the openings BYU has at the nose tackle position this coming season, and that was certainly something he liked when learning more about BYU.

“I want to play," said Pela. “Just like anyone else, I want to play. I don’t want to use my redshirt year. It was explained to me that I’d have a chance to compete and start right away at BYU, and that’s what you want.”

Pela certainly can play and compete with the best around, which is why so many schools are scrambling for his services at this relatively inopportune time for most schools to allocate a scholarship. So what type of player is Pela?

“I just love to hit, I really love to hit guys and dominate them," explained Pela. “I don’t know what else to say. That’s what I love about football and that is what I’m good at.”

A quick view of Pela’s junior college film shows a player that is lightning quick off the line and that can penetrate an offensive line and demand a double-team, which is an essential attribute for any Division I nose guard or defensive tackle.

Pela also made a visit to the Houston Cougars and liked what they had to offer and will certainly factor them into his final decision. For right now, Pela is just trying to make some last-minute visits to the schools that are pursuing him.

“Louisville wants me to visit this weekend and I might go there, but Oregon and Arizona State are trying to work something out, so we’ll just see what happens," explained Pela. “I understand that it’s hard fitting me in so fast and I know that if I would have waited a year that I could pretty much play wherever I wanted, but I like my options right now. It’s enough for me and playing right away after a year is more important than having more options.

“It’s been a hectic and trying time for me here of late. My father passed away a couple of weeks ago and that was a very tough thing for me. It’s tough and sometimes I wish I could have a little more time, but I know that I’m on the right track and all this is really going to pay off if I just keep on going. I’m very happy with where I’m at right now.”

Pela noted that he could be making his final decision as early as this weekend, but that it won’t be any later than the end of the month. TBS will certainly keep in touch with Pela and report on any developments as they break.

Update: Kyle Whittingham and staff received a pleasant surprise last week with the late commitment of 2009 recruit Joape Pela. Pela, a 6-foot-2 inch, 300 pound defensive tackle from Foothill College (Los Altos, Calif.) adds to what was already a strong class of defensive linemen for the Utes.

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