JUCO DL Shines
One position that gets heavily recruited wherever they can be found is the defensive line. Whether a player is on the high school, prep school or JC level he is at a premium. There are not enough defensive linemen to go around.
There is one on the JC level who is getting intense looks from three of the nation’s best programs in Siteveni Tuivai (6-4, 255, 4.65) from Snow College, Utah.
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Tuivai is a virtual neophyte to the game of football, but he is fast learner. He was on the Tonga National Rugby team, so he’s physical and likes to mix it up.
“Siteveni was such a great athlete that we originally wanted him to play tight end,” Snow College head coach Jeff Kilts said. “We decided that he could better serve our team on the defensive side of the ball.”
“Opponents can’t block the guy,” Kilts said. “We line him up on the weak side and let him wreak havoc on the quarterback.”
Tuivai has only played in four games this season because he had a nagging injury that kept him out of action for a couple of games.
Still he has three sacks and numerous hurried passes while fighting through double teams on almost every play.
Tuivai is being very highly recruited due to his overall athleticism and his tremendous upsides.
“Siteveni is raw but his best days of football are ahead of him,” Kilts said. “He has so much potential that is scary.”
USC, Tennessee and NC State are hotly recruiting this guy. Both USC and NC State have ties to Snow College.
Undefeated NC State has done a nice job with JC transfers over the past few years and once again the Wolfpack seem to be doing a great job evaluating JC talent.
Tuivai could visit NC State when FSU plays in Raleigh in November.