LOGAN — Starting Thursday night and continuing through Saturday, thousands of now former college football players will eagerly take in the 2020 NFL Draft, hoping to hear their name called.
There will be a few former Utah State Aggies among them, including quarterback Jordan Love, linebacker David Woodward, kicker Dominik Eberle, defensive back DJ Williams and running back Gerold Bright, to name a few.
Also a part of that group will be Tipa Galeai.
A defensive end, Galeai was integral part of the Aggies’ success over the past two seasons, following his transfer from TCU.
He was an immediate contributor when he took the field for USU as a junior in 2018, and led the team in both sacks (10.5) and tackles for loss (14). His sack total was the most by any Aggie since 2005.
As a senior this past season, he took on an even greater leadership role, as one of USUs most important playmakers, and earned second-team All-Mountain West honors on the back of 55 tackles, a team-high five sacks and nine tackles for loss. Galeai also had a team-high eight quarterback hurries and a fumble recovery.
“We used his athleticism and (playmaking) for sure,” Utah State head coach Gary Andersen said. “He takes advantage of opportunities to make plays,”
Making his production all the more impressive this past season was the fact that it came against near constant double-teams.
“They were double-teaming him every play,” Utah State defensive ends coach Bojay Filimoeatu said in a release. “Teams respected him. They wanted to get the ball out quick, or they were going to have the back block him with the tackle.”
“We used his athleticism and (playmaking) for sure. He takes advantage of opportunities to make plays.” — Utah State coach Gary Andersen
Galeai’s ability to rush the quarterback and make plays in the backfield is expected to translate to the next level. Those traits are why he may be one of a select few Aggies to hear their name called in the draft — Bleacher Report’s Matt Miller has him being taken by the Tennessee Titans late in the sixth round, while other outlets consider him a priority undrafted free agent.
“It’s easy to love the get-off, acceleration around the corner, spin counter and closeout burst to the quarterback,” NFL.com analyst Lance Zierlein writes. “... There is definitely enough rush talent and explosiveness for a team to draft and groom him.”
The Draft Network’s Kyle Crabbs was of a similar mind.
“He’s pretty quick!” Crabbs writes. “... Has plenty of moves in the toolbox, including a nice inside spin move, speed rip and dip and an outside chop to work himself around the outside hip.”
Concerns arise when it comes to Galeai’s size — he is listed at 6-5, 235 pounds — and strength.
“It will be tough for him to stick with a team if he can’t get bigger,” writes Zierlein. “Galeai’s lean frame can’t handle NFL edge-setting duties, so he’ll generally be viewed as a designated pass rusher. … He can be subdued by longer, stronger tackles. If he can keep adding to his rush repertoire and improve his hands, he’s got a shot, but he may need a stash-and-grow plan on a practice squad no matter who takes him.”
Whether Galeai hears his name called during the upcoming draft or not, his coaches at USU expect him to only continue to get better.
”He is barely scratching the surface with what he can do,” Filimoeatu said. “He is getting smart with all his drops and understanding coverages, understanding formations, understanding the run game and understanding just basic sets off of the offensive tackle. … I am more excited about the rest of the way for the run game and the pass game with him, because I know that he’s going to excel in both of them.”