Click for Shammah Finau Highlights
Kennedy Catholic should sport one of the better defenses in the state of Washington this coming fall and a big reason is the leadership from LB Shammah Finau.
As a junior last season, Finau started and played both ways for Rainier Beach, totaling over 600 yards and 14 touchdowns and he also led Beach with 42 tackles while also adding in three sacks for good measure.
“Probably the thing I do best is I deliver the first hit on both sides of the ball,” Finau told Northwest Elite Index. “I’m physical and I like to be aggressive, so delivering the first hit and getting to the point-of-attack quickly are big for me and then when it’s time for contact, I just go get it.
“I set the tone on defense. I fly around and get to the ball and I deliver hits. It’s what I like to do.”
After the fall semester was completed, his family moved south and he enrolled at Kennedy Catholic in Burien.
“It was tough to leave, but I am happy here now,” Finau said. “They have a great program here and I feel like I’ve got a place here where I can contribute and compete.
Since making the move, Finau has been hard at work on his overall game and he’s focused on adding strength and speed as well as being more agile.
“I really am focused on working with my trainer, Anthony Watkins, and I’ve been hitting the weights and just working on my speed and getting into my drops,” Finau said. “Agility drills, speed drills, footwork drills, I’ve been doing everything I can to maximize what I can do this fall.”
On the recruiting front, Finau has seen some interest from schools, but so far, none have extended offers his way.
“I’ve heard from a couple of the Navy coaches and from a Cornell coach,” Finau said. “With camps, I wasn’t able to take part in the Washington and Washington State camps because I had some Patella Tendinitis. I talk to coach coach (Eric) Mele (WSU) pretty regularly and coach (Chris) Strausser (UW) visited my school this spring.
“I did hit the Nike Camp in Los Angeles and I did pretty well. I worked on some stuff and competed with the guys down there.”
Finau could be one of the more underrated linebackers in the region heading into the fall. As a two-way stud for a team that will most assuredly make a run to the state playoffs, he will have the chance to showcase his talents to coaches throughout the season. With his size, aggressiveness and high Football I.Q., Finau could be a real steal for whoever winds up with him, either as a scholarship player or as a preferred walk-on.
