Idaho’s Iupati brings defensive mentality to O-line
Article By ddillon.tsn on 26th February, 2010
INDIANAPOLIS — He's the best guard in the NFL draft. And he has been working out at tackle. But he would really like to play defense.
Meet Mike Iupati, a 6-5, 331-pound hulk who seemingly could line up at any position on the line on either side of the ball and bust your chops. Really bust 'em.
"I really love defense. That's my favorite passion of the game," the Idaho offensive lineman said. "I know I'm physical enough to hold up two gaps and take on double-teams. I always pushed my coach to make me a defensive player because I am pretty good at it, but they needed me on offense."
Whichever team drafts Iupati — he's expected to go in the middle of the first round — will get a player with an easy-going demeanor off the field but with a nasty DNA on it. He smiled frequently and spoke softly during an interview at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday. But listen to his game plan.
"When it comes to football, I like to destroy a lot of people," he said. "It's fun."
Iupati's road to the NFL has taken some unusual turns. A native of American Samoa, he came to the U.S. when he was 14 because his parents knew he and his siblings would have a better opportunity in this country. For a year, the family stayed in a garage at his aunt's house — living from one paycheck to the next.
Iupati played football at Western High School in Anaheim, Calif., but struggled in the classroom — English was his second language — and didn't meet the NCAA academic requirements. He considered attending Cerritos College, a junior college in Norwalk, Calif., and, in fact, was attending a barbecue there one night when a recruiter from Idaho stopped by and spotted him.
The recruiter offered to make Iupati a Proposition 48 student at Idaho. At first, Iupati resisted because he didn't want his parents taking out a loan for college. But he finally re...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
Meet Mike Iupati, a 6-5, 331-pound hulk who seemingly could line up at any position on the line on either side of the ball and bust your chops. Really bust 'em.
"I really love defense. That's my favorite passion of the game," the Idaho offensive lineman said. "I know I'm physical enough to hold up two gaps and take on double-teams. I always pushed my coach to make me a defensive player because I am pretty good at it, but they needed me on offense."
Whichever team drafts Iupati — he's expected to go in the middle of the first round — will get a player with an easy-going demeanor off the field but with a nasty DNA on it. He smiled frequently and spoke softly during an interview at the NFL Scouting Combine on Thursday. But listen to his game plan.
"When it comes to football, I like to destroy a lot of people," he said. "It's fun."
Iupati's road to the NFL has taken some unusual turns. A native of American Samoa, he came to the U.S. when he was 14 because his parents knew he and his siblings would have a better opportunity in this country. For a year, the family stayed in a garage at his aunt's house — living from one paycheck to the next.
Iupati played football at Western High School in Anaheim, Calif., but struggled in the classroom — English was his second language — and didn't meet the NCAA academic requirements. He considered attending Cerritos College, a junior college in Norwalk, Calif., and, in fact, was attending a barbecue there one night when a recruiter from Idaho stopped by and spotted him.
The recruiter offered to make Iupati a Proposition 48 student at Idaho. At first, Iupati resisted because he didn't want his parents taking out a loan for college. But he finally re...
Read Complete Article at Latest Sporting News Articles for NFL
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Tampa Bay Rays Tickets: The Rays are a member of the Eastern Division of MLB's American League. Since their inception in 1998, the club has played at Tropicana Field.
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San Francisco Giants Tickets are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, who currently play in the National League West Division.
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