First, can you talk about what brought you to the USFL?
I just wanted an opportunity to play. For the most part I was waiting on and off again for calls from NFL teams and this was a guaranteed opportunity to play and put some good tape out there of my play.
Were you surprised the Maulers took you?
I didn’t have any contact with them before the draft. New Orleans was really the only team that contacted me – they texted me a couple of times. I’m grateful to the Maulers for picking me up. It was a surprise though to be taken by them.
Know any of the guys on the team?
I know Jon Dietzen and Garrett Groshek – I played with them both at Wisconsin. Jon was in my class and Garrett came right after us. They’re all great athletes – I’m excited to be on a team with them again.
Any idea of your role there – as a big guy I would think you’d be playing at nose in that 3-4?
I just have some brief knowledge of the defense and my role. I know they want a big body to stop the run in the base 3-4 and to keep linemen off the linebackers and let them make plays, and to take advantage of some of those one-on-one matchups.
Your uncle Domata Peko had a long career in the NFL – he have any advice for you that helped you so far?
The big thing he told me was to stay persistent. Put God first and stay persistent and stay ready. Come in with the why – find that something I love to do and keep pushing myself even on those days when I don’t want to get up in the morning. Just to be ready and put in the work.
Any of the guys on the Lions and Falcons help you – and how – during your time with both teams?
Danny Shelton in Detroit told me what to expect – the speed of the game and helped me learn how to play off different blocks and be in the prosper position to make plays.
In Atlanta Tyler Darden and Grady Jarett helped me to keep working on my moves.
There’s fun footage out there of you when you joined your high school cheerleading team and your athletic a ability there. What prompted that?
I always wanted to learn how to do a backflip. I became part of the team and learned how to do one. It helped show how to build trust with one another – when you throw each other up and catch one another – that takes a lot of trust. That’s the same in football too – you have to know your job and be accountable to each person for what you need to do. You have to trust the guy next to you knows their job too.
As for the athletic ability – I had some God-given athletic ability. I did what I wanted to do in learning how to do a backflip on sand first and had fun doing it.
There are a number of Steelers players that have come through Pittsburgh with strong Samoan backgrounds. What does representing the Samoan culture mean to you?
The culture of the Samoan people is everything to me. All we put on tape – we’re a prideful people – we take pride in our family and who we are. It’s a blue collar mentality – a lot like Pittsburgh. Tyson Alualu, Troy – like them I want to do everything I can to help people succeed. We’re accountable for what we do – that’s the way we grew up. You work hard for what you get and are humble. I think that’s what sets us apart from other people. In good or bad we stay consistent with who we are as people.
If you were told to improve one part of your game to really take that next step, what would that be?
To be more consistent as a run stopper – and to show I can be a pass rusher on long-yardage downs. People expect me to be strong in run support but I want to back it up in long-yardage situations by rushing the passer too – to get my pass rush ability on tape and show I’m an every-down player. I’ve been working on my pass rush with Chuck Smith, the NFL Academy and did with Coach Hayes. I’m working on putting more tools in my toolbox and want to put it all together and show it on the field.
What does success look like for you this season?
This year – to get on an NFL team’s active roster during the season. I’ve been in mini-camps and on practice squads. Doing my job consistently – I need to show that first – that’s what I need to do to make an active NFL roster.
Lastly, what should we know about you that isn’t football-related?
I’m a people-person. I love meeting people and telling my story. I’m also a family-oriented person. I spend time with my church group, play basketball and rugby and try to hit something every once in a while on the golf range.
I’m a real community-oriented person – I try to take time to give back to people. And, I love to eat. If people have food recommendations I’m the first person in line!