Now that Hunter's Ray Feinga has verbally declared himself a BYU Cougar — which was surprising to no one — the real question is how will BYU coach Gary Crowton choose to use Feinga.
When the Deseret Morning News tabbed Feinga as its Mr. Football following the 2003 season, it was based on his dominance as both an offensive and defensive lineman. His outstanding size and speed on the o-line was a big reason why running backs Tauni Vakapuna and Matt Asiata combined for nearly 4,000 rushing yards. His presence as a defensive tackle helped make Hunter the toughest run defense in the state.
At 6-foot-5, 285 pounds, Feinga isn't exactly tiny, but by offensive lineman standards in college football these days, he's quite undersized. BYU apparently isn't too concerned. During his official visit, and in previous conversations, the BYU coaching staff informed Feinga they were recruiting him as an offensive lineman. And why not? He's got tremendous upside if he bulks up, and after a redshirt year and then a two-year LDS mission, Feinga should easily tip the scales over 300 pounds.
That doesn't mean it's a done deal though.
When Feinga participated in the Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio on Jan. 3, his West team coaches — which included Northridge's Fred Fernandes — used him as a defensive lineman. Feinga only played on a few series because of tendinitis in his knee, but that high school all-star game may have been a glimpse at Feinga's future.
Hunter coach Wes Wilcken thinks BYU would be foolish not to develop Feinga into an offensive lineman, despite his 73 tackles and 11 sacks this past season.
BYU's running game could use such productivity.
It doesn't look the Cougars will be offering scholarships to Feinga's Hunter cohorts though.
Vakapuna, the Deseret Morning News 5A MVP, probably won't be following in the footsteps of his older brother Taufui Vakapuna, who just completed his freshman year at the Y. Instead, he's being looked at by Idaho State and Utah State, but even those schools are still wavering with national letter of intent day less than a month away.
Some coaches are also a little hesitant to make an offer to Feinga's best friend and fellow offensive lineman Ron Tongaonevai.
Wilcken truly believes the 6-foot-4, 320-pound lineman is the diamond in the rough, but teams just aren't lining up to offer him scholarships. There's still a chance Utah State may offer him a scholarship, but Wilcken says there's an outside chance Tongaonevai may have to bad-door his way into a Division I scholarship through a JUCO program like Dixie.
It would be a shame if these two talented Hunter athletes weren't given at least a chance to prove themselves at the next level.
E-MAIL: jedward@desnews.com