Mesa to UofA: Highly touted MCC lineman signs letter of intent
The choice was tough for Will Tukuafu but in the end he decided Tucson was the best place to play his football. After sitting out of football for a year, it was time for him to select the college he wanted to attend. Before leaving on a two year LDS mission, Tukuafu had decided to play for the Cougars of Brigham Young University, but upon his return focused his attention to the Pac-10 conference.
“The Pac-10 was a bigger conference and I felt like it was a better fit for me,” the 6-6 defensive lineman told the Legend.Though he was recruited by several schools in the Pac-10, Tukuafu narrowed it down to Arizona State and and Arizona.
“I knew I wanted to stay in Arizona so my family could come in watch me play.”
In the end though, Tukuafu decided his family would have to drive the hour and a half if they wanted to catch his games.“I think U of A is a program on the rise,” Tukuafu said, “I am excited to be a part of it.”
Tukuafu noted that Arizona head coach Mike Stoops played a big role in his decision to ‘Bear Down’ next season.
“I talked to Coach Stoops a lot,” says Tukuafu, who sat this season out to get his grades up, “being a defensive-minded coach he played a big role in my recruitment.”
The defensive lineman will very anxious to get on the field and play after not being able to this season.
“It is tough because I have friends on the team and it is hard watching them suit up everyday and not being able to.”
Tukuafu will surely get his chance to show his stuff as part of an ever improving Desert Swarm defense next season.
Volume
44, Issue 7. Today is
Tukuafu commits to the Wildcats.
Scott Seligman/Mesa Legend