WSU Football Recruiting: Destiny Vaeao, DE From American Samoa, Becomes Latest Leach Commit
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 27, 2012 5:06 PM PST
in 2012 WSU Football Recruiting News
Email
PrintAccording to CF.C, Joe Salave'a is already paying off. The new WSU defensive line coach, and ambassador to the islands of Hawai'i and American Samoa, has helped the Cougs land Destiny Vaeao. Vaeao plays both TE and DE, but he'll be playing defense for the Cougs.
Also, his name is Destiny, which is pretty amazing.
"Fool me once..." RT @KyleRancourt: I'm kinda surprised Destiny Vaeao didn't wind up at UTEP.
— Brian Floyd (@BrianMFloyd) January 28, 2012
First, his video lists him as a TE/K. I can honestly say that's the first time I've ever seen that combination. One time I was playing NCAA '09 and I couldn't get a punter to commit. I didn't want to waste a valuable spot on a walk-on that was probably only rated as a 40 anyway, so during the "Change Positions" portion of the off-season in Dynasty Mode, I switched a 308 pound DT to punter. I never punted anyway, and if I needed to, my kicker would just do it. But the game wanted a player listed as a punter. I'm fairly sure this is the same exact thing going on.
Vaeao is the first player to play for Wazzu from American Samoa that I can remember. I know we've had several Samoan players, and players from Hawai'i, but I can't find anything (Scout's classes go back to 2002) that says we landed a kid from the island itself. That's a pretty big deal.
Mark already talked about Salave'a, and linked to a 60 Minutes piece on American Samoa. It's pretty good, if you haven't already seen it.
Vaeao is a pretty big dude, and he's still growing. At almost 6'4, 255 lbs, he can add some weight and play both DT and DE in the Cougars new defense. His highlights in the above video don't show him playing DE, but they do show a ridiculous block at the 1:44 mark. Seriously, it was one of those "OHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" moments where I don't realize how loud I just yelled and now my neighbors hate me. This also happened when Marquess Wilson caught the TD against Colorado.
Vaeao is raw, let's not kid ourselves here. He's a big time athlete, and I'm excited to have him (and possibly a new found pipeline to Samoa) on board, but let's take a deep breath. I've already seen some people on the interwebs talking about how he can start next year.
Whoa. Easy tiger. Let's have some realistic expectations for the kid. I think once he dedicates himself to defense, he'll be a pretty good player. I don't, however, think that happens right away. I think he's a solid player for a few years and does well as an upper classman. Kind of like how it's supposed to happen, right? This whole players-aren't-supposed-to-all-start-as-Freshman thing is weird to me.
Nice pick up, but let's not get too carried away. The kid has a lot of work to do.
-----
Want more? Follow us on Twitter and Facebook. Also, check out Recruiting Central
60 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
I'm looking forward to destiny puns every time he does something.
Gets a sack…“It’s like it was Destiny”
by Mark Sandritter on Jan 27, 2012 5:22 PM PST reply actions 3 recs
I found that video to be very offensive
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
That hit at 1:44
Made my bones hurt… Seriously, you can hear the crunching sound of the poor guy’s rib cage
Can't wait for the first person to try and make a destiny joke and screw it up.
“It’s like being an All American was his /sunglasses/ Vaeao.”
/dodges tomatoes/
By the way Kyle
Any pronunciation guidance for his last name?
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Ok
I guessed that it might be that or Vay-Oh
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
That is actually a realistic pronunciation
For example in Tuiasosopo, each of the first three vowels get their own syllable. When you string vowels together, the possibilities seem infinite.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
I'd guess this one is correct.
If the knowledge passed on to me by my Hawaiian friend is correct, you generally pronounce every vowel. For instance, the Likelike Highway on Oahu is pronounced LEE-kay-LEE-kay.
Two in the cake, one in the puddin'! -Kevin Calabro, Twitter: MichaelTheCoug
by Michael The Coug on Jan 27, 2012 7:09 PM PST up reply actions
Vah EEE- ay - OH
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
by hollyweirdcoug on Jan 27, 2012 11:08 PM PST up reply actions
With that moniker I will take your word for it and pronounce it as such
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Robert Lewis commits again?
Saw a tweet from what appears to be somebody at a basketball game where robert lewis goes to high school and said he just committed to WSU.
One of his coaches broke it the first time...
He just made it official… well as official as it can be until wednesday.
by bliznair64@gmail.com on Jan 27, 2012 8:43 PM PST up reply actions
Cougs from American Samoa
I’m pretty sure Jack Thompson was born there. This guy looks like a stud, any idea if we may give this guy a shot as a TE? Go Cougs.
No
he’s not going to play TE. And yes, Jack Thompson was born in Samoa, but he went to HS in Seattle.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 28, 2012 12:50 PM PST up reply actions
Mike Price's angel
AKA: Dee Snider
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
FINALLY!
love it! haven’t seen a tight end like this in a long time i cant wait to watch him play in crimson
lil bit ya
But i am looking forward to watching this kid play whatever position
I don't think he will be playing TE
Leach’s offense doesn’t generally use a TE. I think he projects to be a DE/DT.
I would use him like Hawaii did
Big boy to catch the screens
he could very del end up at NT
he is young and growing fast. Don’t forget Ropati Pituitoa was 6’7" 250 or so, and Aaaron Johnson in that same set was 6’5" 243— they were both 300 when they finished— my buddy who is a NCAA strength coach and says of this kid— he has a rack you can hang a lot of meat on… love that phrase.
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
by hollyweirdcoug on Jan 28, 2012 6:23 PM PST up reply actions
I believe Leon Bender was about 225 when he was signed.
Not that it has anything to do with this conversation, but it always makes me smile!
I agree.
My point was more “he’s not playing TE” for multiple reasons, rather than he’ll strictly be a DE.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 28, 2012 11:44 PM PST up reply actions
What about legendary WSU QB Samoa Samoa?
Wouldn’t it be funny if he weren’t actually from Samoa?
I'm here to kick ass and chew bubble gum, and I'm all out of bubble gum.
Thompson, Samoa Samoa and Tali Ena
were Coug MVP’s in the 70’s— all Samoans…
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
by hollyweirdcoug on Jan 27, 2012 11:38 PM PST up reply actions
Pipeline
So far since Joe Salava’e has been added, there have been some good Samoan additions including JC’s Ioane Gauta, Niu Sale, and now a high school possible sleeper considering the numerous schools that have offered him, Destiny Vaeao. Typically the Cougars don’t have more than a couple recruits of either Samoan descent or from Hawaii, but so far this year there are those 3 plus Taylor Taliulu, and Jacob Tuivaiave. This is 5 so far with more to come in the future.
If Vaeao becomes a stud it will make Salava’e’s job a lot easier to get more recruits directly from Samoa to Pullman. With a pipeline Leach could have the foundation of his play in the trenches taken care of as well as other spots. Add these new players to other players on the team including Toni Pole, Chester Sua, and Sekope Kaufusi and there could be a significant presence of players of the Pacific Islands playing on the Cougars which could really boost the recruiting.
One thing I love about Leach despite his offense that doesn’t run is that he understands the game starts and ends in the trenches, on either side of the ball something Paul Wulff didn’t seem to understand. It won’t take Leach 4 years to build his type of lines. He will get the right recruits and make sure they are big enough and strong enough to hold up against USC and other schools. Joe Salava’e has shown so far he’s going to get some of the recruits to WSU that Leach wants by recruiting some big guys with Sale and Gauta and now landing a stud in Vaeao that would have laughed had Wulff called instead of Leach.
I have never been this excited as a Cougar in recruiting as I am since Leach took over. This is awesome. Thank you Bill Moos.
by jeremyb91 on Jan 27, 2012 7:38 PM PST reply actions 1 recs
Not looking to get into a Paul Wulff debate but as a former lineman I GUARANTEE you that he understood the importance of line play
There are many things to be said about him and his staff but this subtle slap is ridiculous.
We lost lineman in his tenure to a car crash, Canada, a boxing career, and other Pac 12 schools to name a few. And don’t forget that Wulff had 6 O-lineman committed (and Mitchell from last year) for Leach to choose from before looking elsewhere.
Look, it seems that Leach is doing well. But, everything he’s done so far doesn’t need to be propped up on something Wulff did poorly. I didn’t even like Wulff but this is exactly what we all heard for the last 4 years about Doba and his staff. Wulff put Leach in a very good spot having a full class on hand to pick from allowing him to go after some other guys.
by klokkins on Jan 28, 2012 7:50 AM PST up reply actions 1 recs
He knew the importance of O line play, but after 4 years ....
After 4 years, the O line was still terrible. Yes he had some negative things happen, but after year 3 it should have been better than it was and not have to worry about losing Mitchell in year 4. After 4 years the O line still gave up 36 sacks which was 11th worst in the nation, after giving up 51 sacks the year prior and 53 the year prior to that. Each year the line was among the worst pass protecting lines in the country. Run blocking, now that’s another equally disturbing story. After 4 years the best the O line could do was help the RB’s average 3.1 yards a carry which was the first time a Wulff O line had RB’s average more than 3 yards a carry, the previous best being 2.7 yards a carry.
It starts and ends in the trenches. It doesn’t matter if it’s high school ball or the NFL, if you can block very well you are going to have a good offense. If you can’t, then you usually don’t. Leach understands this more than Wulff did based on his greater emphasis in getting more players like Destiny Vaeao, Ioane Guate, and Niu Sale to go with Wulff’s class minus two recruits to bring to the trenches. Its obvious Leach doesn’t only understand the importance of play in the trenches but also has stressed the importance of dedicating 1/3 of the recruits to the trenches. Yes Wulff helped him out, but considering 9 of the 19 recruits are elsewhere with two of them being big men in the trenches replaced by better players, Leach is doing what’s necessary.
Leach will recruit big and strong players to WSU and before year 4 we’ll all be very happy with the play in the trenches. Leach’s long-term success is predicated on the play in the trenches as is any coach and he understands this. Wulff could have done more his first 3 years but didn’t. It’s sad he landed some good player his last 2 years, but it was too little loot late.
I honestly can’t wait to see next year’s recruiting class because of the visibility of Mike Leach and how recruits are now looking at WSU who haven’t looked this way since Mike Price was head coach. My bet is next season he dedicates another 1/3 of his recruits to play in the trenches and most of them will be high school players with a couple JC’s sprinkled in. If WSU goes bowling next season, recruits will take notice and start coming to Pullman, especially when the Air Raid becomes a hit in the PAC 12.
Agreed, but I just need to correct a few stats he threw out there.
Running backs average 4.6 yards per carry this season, compared to 3.6 in 2010 (rememeber – the NCAA is stupid and uses sack yards as rushing yards).
Sacks dropped considerably, despite about 100 more dropbacks. WSU QBs were sacked 7% of the time this season, compared to 12% in 2010.
CougCenter In Reid We Trust, Twitter!
by Craig Powers on Jan 28, 2012 1:06 PM PST up reply actions
Your response could've just been "The line play under Wulff sucked, I hate him, and Leach is a god."
Saying “OMGs Leach is such a genius because he actually realizes we need to have an O-line” is ridiculous. That was my point.
Feel free to rattle off more stats in paragraph form, but just saying Wulff is an idiot because he didn’t think we needed a good line is weak. Yes, the team wasn’t very good under him (line play a huge part of that), there is a reason why he was fired and all.
We’re all excited about Leach, he is a very good coach. He definitely doesn’t need to be propped up by just dumping on Wulff.
Wow.
Pretty sure if you read anything I wrote you would realize that this is what I was saying in both posts. Basically, leave it alone, quit dumping on Wulff. But, if it helps you feel like you’re taking the high road in some manner then by all means, run with it.
No high road or anything
If I post anything else in response to this Kyle will come down hard on me. So I stopped. No reason to take it further.
But if you want to keep responding, go far it.
How old are you?
Don’t have any idea how old you are Kyle, but you should remember Don Sasa from American Samoa and a mainstay of the Palouse Posse! Certainly you remember him, right?
I'm 27. So no, I don't remember the early 90s football teams because I was like, 9.
by Kyle Rancourt on Jan 28, 2012 12:55 PM PST up reply actions
I'm 'like' 14 and I remember the 80's
so there
It is not the size of the gift that demonstrate support…it’s the action of joining.
by woolybugger on Jan 29, 2012 12:34 PM PST up reply actions
I remember not only the 90's but 80's too
Not all of us are as young as Kyle. But I can also say, Kyle knows his stuff.
I was in Pullman in the 90's but darned if I remember most of the players.
Damn you alcohol and weed!
Chad Eaton and Don Sasa
were the DT’s on the ‘94 Palouse Posse- had bowl games been included in NCAA stats, they would have finished the #1 D in the nation after their Alamo Bowl win. As it was they were #2 behind Miami. Both DT’S went to the NFL as did 8 of the 11 on that D… I think…
Kyle’s R’S research is exceptional- I am an old die hard Coug and have tracked recruiting since before it was hip to do so and before it was easy to find out ANYTHING until signing day. I used to hang onto the Lindy’s Pac 10 mags so I could check and recheck how classes faired for WSU and opponents. Now thanks to the inter webs and twitter, we know who took a crap, what they ate before it and where it happened. I tangle w/ Kyle sometimes on recruiting issues, but have ZERO qualms about how much he knows… they guy is all over it.
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
by hollyweirdcoug on Jan 28, 2012 6:08 PM PST up reply actions 2 recs
Ditto to jeremyb91!
“I have never been this excited as a Cougar in recruiting as I am since Leach took over. This is awesome. Thank you Bill Moos.” Amen Let us all gather,… not at the river but at Joe Albi for the Spring game!!!!
Is he wearing a Coors Light shirt in the first part of the video?
I feel like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football. Ugh
Haha he is underneath his polo shirt
I had to look at it for a minute but it is definitely a Coors Light shirt.
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
Always nice to steal a guy who has an offer from UW
He also had an offer from Tennessee where UW’s new d-coordinator came from. Someone on the cougfan forum heard Scott Ecklund from Dawgman say on the radio that he thought he’d be a Dawg.
www.twitter.com/nashcoug
That is strange that he had offers from Tennesee and UW
It doesn’t look like he ever visited Tennesee, but he visited UW on 12/16 before Wilcox got hired. I’m sure if Wilcox was interested in him at Tennessee, then he likely tried to follow up with him pretty hard after he got to UW knowing that he had already been there on a visit. Score one for Salave’a.. It’s got to be nice to be able to hear from somebody, “Hey, I came from where you’re from and had a nine year NFL career. Come follow me.”
Around these parts, a man could get hurt for wearing purple.
A connection of mine
say another Samoan DT is coming in… he is 290— the name he said didn’t sound Samoan, but our connection was bad. Hope it’s true— big bodies on the front are key in the 3-4.
If you can't Go Cougs... don't go.
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Community Guidelines
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
