Soape Tupou 2016 NT/OG from Grant HS in Sacramento, CA as a UM Potential Recruit would presents a very interesting option for Miami as a true NT that can control 2 gaps completely. Tupou is 6'4" 350lbs (but well put together) rated as a 3* prospect with his only offer being UCLA. Now here is where it gets very interesting 95% of his highlights are as a Offensive Guard, however in a two gap defense these skills sets translate almost identically. This was the similar case with 2015 OG/NT Kendrick Norton who was a Top 20 Guard but wanted to play defense in college so he chose Miami since UM was the only school to offer him as a defensive player.
Tupou has exceptional downfield blocking range for a 350lb linemen and just as importantly demonstrates functional football strength on the field while playing with explosive leverage (benched 450lbs and squatted 570lbs as a junior). His athleticism and agility is very impressive (4.96 sec forty time), which make one wonder why only one offer for such an impressive player that also comes from one of North Cali's premier high schools for producing D1 talent.
Tupou's hand to hand technique needs work which will make him a strong redshirt candidate wherever he signs if he wants to play defense, but redshirting will allow him to develop into a monstrous NT, that is both strong at the point and uses sound technique. Hopefully James Coley on his trips to visit Tyler lytle in SoCal will swing by Northern Cali to evaluate Tupou in person. Miami hasn't had a Polynesian player since the Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and we are do to land one.
Tupou's recruitment has been extremely, which leads one to wonder if there are some behind the scenes red flags that could make him a high risk high reward player that some schools shy away from but then UCLA would not have offered. The other issue is cultural fit Polynesian families tend be extremely close so getting him to not only come cross country but also stay and thrive in Miami could be quite the undertaking. There was some chatter on a UCLA board questioning if he had two older brothers that UCLA neglected to recruit because they were LDS (Mormon's) and pretty much locks to sign with BYU, but no could confirm an again I doubt UCLA would have offered if this was the case.
This is Tupou at Grant HS summer conditioning (keep in mind that is a 350lb kid)
[video=youtube;ax3flCajMV8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax3flCajMV8[/video]
This Tupou in the spring playing Rugby (again keep in mind that is 350lb kid)
[video=youtube;77bKf1W9q9o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77bKf1W9q9o[/video]
Tupou has exceptional downfield blocking range for a 350lb linemen and just as importantly demonstrates functional football strength on the field while playing with explosive leverage (benched 450lbs and squatted 570lbs as a junior). His athleticism and agility is very impressive (4.96 sec forty time), which make one wonder why only one offer for such an impressive player that also comes from one of North Cali's premier high schools for producing D1 talent.
Tupou's hand to hand technique needs work which will make him a strong redshirt candidate wherever he signs if he wants to play defense, but redshirting will allow him to develop into a monstrous NT, that is both strong at the point and uses sound technique. Hopefully James Coley on his trips to visit Tyler lytle in SoCal will swing by Northern Cali to evaluate Tupou in person. Miami hasn't had a Polynesian player since the Dwayne "the Rock" Johnson and we are do to land one.
Tupou's recruitment has been extremely, which leads one to wonder if there are some behind the scenes red flags that could make him a high risk high reward player that some schools shy away from but then UCLA would not have offered. The other issue is cultural fit Polynesian families tend be extremely close so getting him to not only come cross country but also stay and thrive in Miami could be quite the undertaking. There was some chatter on a UCLA board questioning if he had two older brothers that UCLA neglected to recruit because they were LDS (Mormon's) and pretty much locks to sign with BYU, but no could confirm an again I doubt UCLA would have offered if this was the case.
This is Tupou at Grant HS summer conditioning (keep in mind that is a 350lb kid)
[video=youtube;ax3flCajMV8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ax3flCajMV8[/video]
This Tupou in the spring playing Rugby (again keep in mind that is 350lb kid)
[video=youtube;77bKf1W9q9o]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77bKf1W9q9o[/video]
