3* DL/DE Zhen-Keith Sotelo signs

[kapakahi]

Who was the last DL that grew up in the islands and played for UH that made a career in the NFL?

David Veikune?

I'm thinking that maybe Al Noga was the last of them. He played 7 years. Veikune had a two year career, then pro in other leagues. I think that Sotelo has the makings to do well in the NFL.

Former UH DL Ikaika Alama-Francis (Kailua HS), Ma'a Tanuvasa (Mililani HS) & Ta'ase Faumui (Farrington HS) all started their NFL careers before David Veikune (Campbell HS) but after Al Noga (Farrington HS).

[BigWave96744]

Ikaika AF went to Kalaheo

[kapakahi]

Ikaika AF went to Kalaheo

Oops!

[kapakahi]

https://twitter.com/AHoshidaSports/status/1357455260038561792

[kapakahi]

HC Todd Graham's "actions speak more than his words" by showing that he is true to his word....about taking a local HS recruit over a mainland recruit "when all things are equal".

Watch from 3:40 through 4:40 mark from one of his first interviews (back in early February 2020)...just about 1 week after he was hired as HC.


Link

[Palolo_2LA]

Who was the last DL that grew up in the islands and played for UH that made a career in the NFL?

David Veikune?

I'm thinking that maybe Al Noga was the last of them. He played 7 years. Veikune had a two year career, then pro in other leagues. I think that Sotelo has the makings to do well in the NFL.

Travis Laboy

[kapakahi]

Who was the last DL that grew up in the islands and played for UH that made a career in the NFL?

I'm thinking that maybe Al Noga was the last of them. He played 7 years. Veikune had a two year career, then pro in other leagues. I think that Sotelo has the makings to do well in the NFL.

Travis Laboy

Travis grew up in NorCal....not "in the islands".
https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/foot ... laboy/7206

Isa'ako Sopo'aga at least grew up on the islands of American Samoa.

[shrek2]

I'm thinking that maybe Al Noga was the last of them. He played 7 years. Veikune had a two year career, then pro in other leagues. I think that Sotelo has the makings to do well in the NFL.

Travis Laboy

Travis grew up in NorCal....not "in the islands".
https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/foot ... laboy/7206

Isa'ako Sopo'aga at least grew up on the islands of American Samoa.

Thanks for the names kapakahi. I think Ma'a Tanuvasa had the most successful career out of the list. Travis' dad played for UH and graduated from Farrington, but then I believe the family moved to San Rafael or Cliff started a family there.

[Palolo_2LA]

Travis Laboy

Travis grew up in NorCal....not "in the islands".
https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/foot ... laboy/7206

Isa'ako Sopo'aga at least grew up on the islands of American Samoa.

Thanks for the names kapakahi. I think Ma'a Tanuvasa had the most successful career out of the list. Travis' dad played for UH and graduated from Farrington, but then I believe the family moved to San Rafael or Cliff started a family there.

Travis was born in Hawaii and spent time on the rock. His dad, Cliff, was our coach at Kalani Pop Warner.

[SundayJam]

Hello? Isaac Sopoaga played 10 years for your 49ers and finished with the Patriots. Doh...maybe he didn't grow up in Hawaii? Meh. Another Hawaiian defensive lineman who switched to offensive line in the pros retired with a monster career at the Dallas Cowboys. What was that guys name? Oh yeah, Mark Tuinei...or was it Tom who played defense for Hawaii? So long ago.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing this new guy play.

[Palolo_2LA]

Hello? Isaac Sopoaga played 10 years for your 49ers and finished with the Patriots. Doh...maybe he didn't grow up in Hawaii? Meh. Another Hawaiian defensive lineman who switched to offensive line in the pros retired with a monster career at the Dallas Cowboys. What was that guys name? Oh yeah, Mark Tuinei...or was it Tom who played defense for Hawaii? So long ago.

Anyway, I look forward to seeing this new guy play.

Mark Tuinei

[kapakahi]

https://www.khon2.com/sports/zhen-sotel ... ssiveness/
https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/foot ... telo/21327

https://twitter.com/RobDeMelloKHON/status/1754730138233872839