First off, exited that the free agency stuff is over with?
I am excited to be done with free agency! It’s similar to being recruited in college, but you’re at the highest point in your career now. I just want to focus now on playing football – I’m excited to get there for OTAs!
Why sign with the Steelers?
It’s a city and franchise with a lot of history. It’s a well-rounded organization from top to bottom – in and outside of football. When I visited there, it felt like I was back at LSU. They care about football deeply. I’m not saying they didn’t in other places I’ve been, but you cn tell throughout the facility that they breathe, eat and sleep football.
When I was meeting with Coach Tomlin – mid-meeting he stepped out and started barking at some of the guys who were working out at the facility. “I love that!” he said. I just wanted to put on cleats then and work out with them!
So for me it’s not “Why did I sign with the Steelers?” It’s more “Why wouldn’t I sign with the Steelers?”
Why a one-year deal?
I knew what my position was in free agency – I knew the market was really for a one-year, prove-it deal, no matter who I signed with. My situation – I began on the practice squad for the beginning of last season – I didn’t have the opportunity yet to show I can be a true full-time player. I knew it’d be a prove-it deal.
I told my agent that I didn’t care about the money. I just want to show the front office and the players that I can give them a different look. That I can bring that physicality to the inside of the defense. I take pride in teams not running the ball between the tackles.
Who are some of the guys that mentored you early on in the NFL?
That’s a really good question. Early on in L.A Linval Joseph and Damion Square mentored me. They were seasoned vets that played my position. They had a lot of snaps in the NFL between them.
Melvin Ingram had a big impact on how I approached the game.
As a young guy I wanted to play but they all helped me and told me that my time would come – I just needed to be ready when it did. I owe a lot to those three.
Anything specific they helped you with?
Linval never missed a practice in the two years I was there. He showed me how to be a professional. I watched Damion prepare and he was always on his P’s and Q’s. Melvin – I learned from him how to treat then facility, if that makes sense. He had two huge contracts when he was there but he had a big heart and treated everyone with genuine respect. I knew he was a person I wanted to hang around. People knew Melvin the person before the player and I wanted to learn from him.
How have your Polynesian roots impacted how you approach the game – and your decision to play for a team like Pittsburgh who has signed a number of Polynesian players over the years?
It is huge. I was talking to my fiancé about this. You see different locker room dynamics throughout college and the NFL. It’s funny though because I think there was maybe one Polynesian player on the teams I played for before. Now I’m going from that to four or five on the roster. The Steelers have historically carried Polynesian players on the roster and that means a lot to me. It shows they value my culture.
On Sunday when I met with Omar Khan, Coach Tomlin and Andy Weidl, the first thing we talked about was our Polynesian connections. When Andy was in Baltimore he of course knew Ed Mulitalo there and Ed and my dad are real close friends. It was a good talk – it was nice to talk about football without talking just about football. I learned how football really is a small world.
In talking to he coaches , Omar and Andy – did you get a sense of what the expectations are for your role there?
I think the main thing Omar told me was that I should come in and just fight. I’ve had to do that my whole career – to fight for the right to play. It’s my job to come in and compete and earn my way up the roster. I expect to start at the bottom and work my way up. Competition brings out the best in everybody.
I’m also lookoineg forward to helping everyone around me. I take pride in my game and setting the anchor on the line. I take pride in stopping the run and have learned to understand the game more. I’ve become a football junkie and believe the game should be played a certain way. I grew up watching Casey Hampton and Kimo Von Oelhoffen, James Harrison, Troy and Ryan Clark and Ryan Shazier… They played the game in a physical and rugged way, and that’s how I describe my style as well.
When I signed I texted Larry O (Ogunjobi) and Alex Highsmith and told them I’m excited to join the team. They were all so grateful I am joining the team. I told them I’m here to do the dirty work and make the ugly stuff look pretty! When one eats we all eat – I’m here to make sure the defense functions well from day one. I’m excited to bring a physical facet to the team.
A lot of focus on your run defense. Do you feel like you can offer something in the pass game at some point as well?
I do believe my game can evolve more eyes. I don’t believe I’ve peaked – I think in working with Coach Dunbar and Coach Tomlin I can develop even more yes.
Did you know a lot of the guys on the team prior to signing?
I knew Larry mostly through social media. Cam {Heyward} was one of the first guys to text me when I signed. Kenny Pickett was the first guy to text me.
Kenny? What did that mean to you that the second-year quarterback was the first to reach out to you?
It means the organization is on a good track – that they have the right leaders in place. I don’t care if they’re 25 or 35. I’m a nose tackle – I’m the last thing Kenny needs to succeed in the NFL! He need speedy guys on the ends, pass catching tight ends…..That he reached out to me shows me he cares about his team.
I’ve seen a number of great quarterbacks in my career. One characteristic that stands out is that they have great leadership and management of the team. So that means a lot.
Lastly, what should we know about you that has nothing to do with football?
I want people to understand and realize that when they see me in public or on social media, that I just want to be recognized as a normal person, not a football player. I’m a family man. I love to be at home and do things around the house and take care of the dogs.
I’m a big gamer and am into podcasts and media. I’m just a normal guy and want to be seen as a guy who does things right – as a man. Not just as a football player.
Read more by former Steelers via the book Steelers Takeaways: Player Memories Through the Decades. To order, just click on the book:
