Young And Talented D-Line Could Be Big Force For Rebuilding Cougars

When Tia Tupai arrived on the Washington State campus for his first semester in January he was just barely a rung above Urkel on the fashion ladder.

Plaid button-down. Brown slacks. Hush Puppies. All he lacked was the pocket protector.

Looking at him then it was hard not to wonder, “This is a football player?”

On the first day of full pads of the fall camp, Tupai, all 326 pounds of him, pushed past two offensive linemen, got into the backfield and would’ve crushed the quarterback had it not been for those pesky non-contact jerseys they wear.

Looking at him then it was hard not to believe, “This is a football player.”

A football player people will be seeing a lot more of soon. Very soon. Tupai may be the only true freshman to start in the opener against Stanford. Since sophomore Ing Aleaga went down with a broken foot on Monday, Tupai has been pushing for the starting defensive tackle spot.

Robb Akey, the defensive line coach, is also pushing Tupai.

“We’re trying to get the big guy to step up,” said Akey. “For a freshman he has got the strength and we are working on his technique. If he can keep his weight down (Tupai came in 20 pounds heavier than he was in spring), he has got a chance to compete in the Pac-10.”

Actually because of young guys on the defensive line, the Cougars may have a chance to compete - at least a little more admirably - in the Pac-10 this season.

“We have got tons of potential,” said senior defensive end Austin Matson “They (the young players) have all got the skills and the size that you need.

“They make more plays than most people out there, with no experience, so I can only imagine what it will be like when they get it,” he added.

Pushing Tupai for playing time on the inside are sophomore Eric Boose (6-2, 275), freshman Jeremey Williams (Ferris High, 6-4, 260), senior Melvin Camarena (6-2, 276) and freshman Rien Long (6-6, 262).

The other tackle spot will be held down by Tomasi Kongaika (6-1, 285). The sophomore has dropped 20 pounds since the spring, is squatting more than 600 pounds and benching 450.

“There is a lot of power in that little body,” said Matson.

Matson, who has started 20 of the last 23 games, and Fred Shavies (6-1, 245), a converted linebacker will start at the end spots. Tupo Tuupo (6-3, 263), another converted linebacker, Anthony Adedipe (6-4, 250) and freshman Isaac Brown (6-3, 221) will back up at the end positions.

“Isaac Brown, his speed rush is definitely something you will see this season,” Akey said.

Something else you may see that is different from the past two years is plenty of substitutions.

“We’ve got a lot of D-linemen that can play, so we are going to be fresh,” said Matson.

“That also enables us the opportunity to take advantage of strengths of different guys during the game while we improve their weakness in practice,” said Akey. “It would be nice to have four war daddies and guys you feel good about putting in.

“But I think we’ve got a lot of guys that can go in there and play,” he said.