Weighty switch

Utah recruited Tupola as a defensive back, and now he's one of the best offensive linemen in the nation

WHEN Tavo Tupola signed a national letter of intent to attend Utah in 1999, the Ute football coaches thought they would be getting a 6-foot-4, 190-pound safety.

When he arrived on the Salt Lake City campus in the fall of 2002 after a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Tucson, Ariz., Tupola's weight was between 280 and 290.

"It (the weight gain) just happened. I thought I would be skinnier after my mission, but the people in Tucson fed me a lot. In some houses they wouldn't let me leave until everything was cleaned up," Tupola said.

"The coaches were shocked, but they were excited that I had become bigger. I think they hoped I would grow a little bit."

The Utah coaches also had an answer. Despite Tupola's quick feet and quick hands, he was not going to be playing in the defensive backfield. They moved him to left tackle and he spent the 2002 redshirt season learning the new position.

Four years later Tupola is one of 101 offensive and defensive linemen on the Lombardi Award watch list. He was well into fall practice when his sister, Pua, left a message on his answering machine with the news.

"I'm excited. It will mean much more after the season and how we do and I hope how I perform. Then it will be more meaningful to me if we have success," said Tupola. "I'm honored there is a watch list and that we (lineman) are getting known for what we do.

"The switch turned out great. You couldn't ask for a better situation than the one I'm in now. They put me in a position where I could have success and I've had it the past four years."

Tupola also is mentioned on the watch list for the Outland Trophy, honoring the nation's top interior lineman.

Following his redshirt year, the coaches gave Tupola an honest appraisal of his progress at left tackle.

"They said I could play this position for a long time. I went from fourth string to one play away from starting. That gave me a lot of confidence," Tupola said.

"It was a huge transition, getting used to the weight and keeping up the tempo with the other guys. It was still playing football, but it was a new position. I took it as a challenge."

That one play came in the third game of the 2003 season against California when starting left guard Jesse Boone went out with an injury.

Tupola stepped in and has been the starting guard ever since. He started nine games that year and all 12 games the next two seasons.

He had a team-best nine knockdowns against UNLV as a redshirt freshman, produced a season-high 10 knockdowns against arch rival Brigham Young as a sophomore and earned All-Mountain West Conference second-team honors last year.

"I believe Tavo is the best offensive lineman in our conference said offensive line coach Charlie Dickey. "I'll be surprised if he is not first-team all-conference. If he keeps playing the way he is playing he should be an All-American."

Tupola's quick hands and feet serve him well in Utah's multiple offense. He spends as much time as possible watching film of opponents and feels confident he knows how the player across the line from him is going to play.

"Tavo is a great pass blocker and does a great job run blocking. He is very good in space. He is the whole package," Dickey said.

"He is a humble kid with great leadership qualities. When Tavo speaks, people listen. When his teammates are down, he gets them going in good ways."

Tupola agrees that he is vocal. Because of the coaches, Tupola says he has a better knowledge of the game, plays more intelligently and has become a student of the game.

One of four senior Red Raiders recruited by the Utes, his decision was easy as Utah was the only school to offer him a scholarship. On top of that, his mother's side of the family lives in Utah and he admits never lacking for a meal.

"I have goals and aspirations and one of them is to play in the NFL. If that doesn't work, I want to become a counselor and work with youth, to influence them and be a role model," Tupola said.

His role model was his father, Vaenuku.

Originally from Tonga, Vaenuku graduated from BYU-Hawaii.

"Both my parents are teachers and they have given a lot to youth," Tupola said. "There are five of us (siblings) and I know of at least 12 other kids they have taken in and taken care of. I'm always hearing stories about the kids they took in.

"I want to make it in the NFL so I can support my family and have the money to work with youth."

Tupola may have another player from Hawaii with him on the offensive line. He says Jeremy Inferrera (Saint Louis '03), who redshirted last year after transferring from Hawaii, is battling for the starting center position.

Note: Five Hawaii players on the 2005 Utah roster are not playing this year. Randy Faletoi (McKinley '04) is on a medical scholarship with back problems; Afa Garrigan (Kahuku '04) is on a mission; Chris Sokugawa (Saint Louis '02) and Semisi Livai (Kahuku) decided not to play, and Tolifili Liufau (Saint Louis '03) did not qualify academically.

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