Click for Tiano Tialavea Highlights
Tiano Tialavea of O’Dea (Seattle, Wash.) High School is a rather large human being. At 6-foot-4 and 345 pounds, he automatically turns heads looking for the “eye test.”
In just pure size and strength, Tialavea will draw comparisons to Haloti Ngata of the Detroit Lions. The two are the same size, and really play the same style and game.
“I am hard to move,” Tialavea told NEI. “I am a big presence in between the tackles, and it makes it pretty hard to run the ball. I have played the one and three technique for the last two years in Meadowdale High School’s 3-4 Defense.”
Being that rock in the middle of the defense is something Tialavea takes pride in, but he also knows he must pick up his speed to be an elite DT not only in this state, but at the next level.
Tialavea recently transferred over to O’Dea High School, a move made for Academics as much as anything. The senior to be currently sports a 3.28 GPA, and is always looking to improve in the classroom.
With the transfer, Tialavea moves into a tight-knit program, and he has done his best to acclimate himself to a new group, while trying to make a name for himself.
“I want to show my new teammates that I am in it to win it,” Tialavea said. “I want to show the team I am there to support and to work my butt off, to have the best season possible.
“I want to be a leader in the weight room, and a leader my teammates can come to for anything.”
In the end the goals are the same as always for O’Dea, it starts with winning a Metro League title, and making their way to the Tacoma Dome.
While he has only been at O’Dea for a short time, Tialavea speaks very highly of legendary head coach Monte Kohler and his Fighting Irish coaching staff.
Tialavea is receiving his fair share of recruiting interest, and from all over the country. SEC schools Vanderbilt and Kentucky, local schools Washington and Washington State, and even a few Ivy League schools as Cornell and Columbia have reached out to say hello.
For now Tialavea is concentrating on finishing the school year off right and working hard in the weight room, as he chases his dream of playing college football.
you can do it .T. you got all the weapons, but you have to be hungry ,every spare time yo have work on your speed , balance and especially your reading good luck my neph we will be praying for you.
Go to the University of Alabama….ROLLLLL TIDE!!!!!!
I remember watching him play when he was 7-8 years old! He was in the same league as my nephew. This kid has always been a force to be reckoned with. Go all the way TT!!