Mater Dei 2017 Recruit Fa’avae Fa’avae is another in a Long Line of Talented California Linebackers

Written by Ryan Wright

Twitter: @HogManInLA

Time and repeated history has shown that even the most talented of players can be overlooked or missed out on the recruiting trail, no matter the size of the state or the success of the school. For Mater Dei Class of 2017 linebacker Fa’avae Fa’avae, pronounced Fuh-via, the overlooked portion of his high school career is coming to a close with the notoriety and attention finally starting to take traction.

For those readers outside southern California, simply put, Fa’avae is just yet another immensely talented linebacker coming out of the Golden State.

Fa’avae’s on the field accomplishments speaks loudly and paints a better picture than a thousand words. The 6’1”, 210 pound, outside linebacker had 59 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, 20 quarterback hurries, three pass deflections, two forced fumbles with one being a strip-six, and a one pick-six in 2015. Fa’avae also led the Trinity League in sacks with 12.5. Another word of note for readers outside the Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Orange County areas in California, the Trinity League is arguably one of if not the toughest conferences in the nation.

To hammer that point home, the league includes St. John Bosco, Servite, Orange Lutheran, JSerra Catholic, and Santa Margarita. Just from the 2016 recruiting class alone St. John Bosco put running back Sean McGrew at Washington, quarterback Quentin Davis at Fresno State, offensive tackle Joe Murphy at Azusa Pacific, and defensive backs D.J. Morgan (Notre Dame), Traveon Beck (Cal), and Mykal Tolliver (Hawaii) all onto the next level. Orange Lutheran produced three next level offensive linemen Logan Bathke (Oregon), Scean Mustin-Sherman (Ohio), Adam Heigis (San Jose State) and quarterback Lavance Northington (Harvard). JSerra had two offensive linemen head for Washington, Luke Wattenberg and Nick Harris. Santa Margarita had at least five guys go onto D-I programs with quarterback K.J. Costello heading to Stanford, wide receiver Dylan Crawford off to Michigan, linebacker Tanner Matthews to Navy, defensive end Alec Stewart to Wyoming, and kicker Sam Loy to Vanderbilt.

If that list was not tough enough, the talent Fa’avae practiced against day in and day out was impressive in its own right with 5-star linebacker Curtis Robinson going to Stanford, offensive lineman Frank Martin going to USC, and wide receiver Andre Collins signing with UNLV.

In addition to playing against and practicing with some of the best competition in the nation, Fa’avae has another thing going for him, a rich family football bloodline. Fa’avae’s father, also named Fa’avae Fa’avae, played at Cal coming out of Carson in the mid-1990’s. Another family member, George Fa’avae, played collegiately for Idaho and UNLV. The bloodline extends out, but the point remains, the athleticism and family mentoring further helps the maturation and molding of the next generation in the Fa’avae family.

Last week the Class of 2017 talent picked up his first Division-I offer with Arizona State, oddly enough, being the area program over Cal ready to bring the emerging linebacker to their campus. In a Recruiting News Guru exclusive interview, I first caught up with Fa’avae before an agility training session with former Arizona State and NFL (Patriots and Raider) running back J.R. Redmond discussing his junior season, his upcoming camp circuit, and received a recruiting update.

Interview

Fa’avae, you jumped on the scene in a big way in 2015. You didn’t play varsity your sophomore year did you?

“I did on special teams but I played both ways on junior varsity at linebacker and running back.”

Did you have a standout season with the JV as a sophomore?

“Yeah it was great. I was one of the team captains. I feel like I dominated on both sides all year.”

After a standout season as a sophomore, where you got to gain a lot of experience and dominate, did you have an idea that you might be starting for the varsity heading into your junior year?

“I had to compete for the starting job all the way through. I was competing for the spot in 7×7 practices and all the way through spring ball. When coach (Bruce Rollinson) made the decision to name me the starter, he moved my teammate to defensive end. It was a grind for 4-5 months straight.”

Knowing that you were going to be the starter for Mater Dei as a junior, how did that make you feel?

“I was excited but at the same time it was expected. There was a lot riding on the season for the team and individually. A lot of people say that your junior year is the most crucial as a recruit. I would work every day like I didn’t have the starting spot. I would give 100 percent of myself every day in practice to keep my spot.”

What were some of the areas of your game that improved from your sophomore to junior season?

“My hips were more fluid. I could turn better in transition during my junior year. My rush off the edge getting to the quarterback got better and better. My junior year was the first year I got sacks like that. I was used differently before so that was my first time to come off the edge and bring pressure. In practice they tried me off the edge. I got a sack on the first play in practice so they kept me there. I think my speed, quickness, power, and everything overall transitioned well from my sophomore season to my junior season.”

You mentioned your speed. You appear to have great closing speed. What is the best 40-yard dash time you’ve posted?

“In October or November I ran a 4.62.”

What is your bench and squat max?

“My bench max is 345 and my squat is 405.”

What offseason workouts are you going through to prepare yourself for your senior year?

“I’m training with J.R. Redmond in Carson. I feel like I am learning a lot of football skills from J.R. He is putting a lot in my tool box. I’m also training with Sports Science Lab. They are fine tuning my weakness. They work with a lot of professional boxers like Manny Pacquiao. I’m also doing track training to increase my overall speed.”

Have you set any offseason goals for your workouts?

“Yeah, I make a lot of goals every year. With my academics, I want a 4.0 GPA and a great score on the ACT. My uncle, Brown Fa’avae has the Mater Dei career sack record with 26. I have 12.5. I just need 14 more to take the school record. That is one of my main goals. My other goal is to get more offers.”

Mater Dei lost a couple of really talented players but you guys have a lot coming back this year. Do you think the team has the talent to make a deep run into the playoffs, possibly contend for a state title?

“I do. We look great. We have a lot of young athletes and upperclassmen that will be difference makers. I think we can win state and challenge for a national championship. I compare our defense to the Denver Broncos but on the high school level. We are fast, quick, strong, and talented all over.”

You picked up your first offer from Arizona State. What other schools are showing interest in you right now?

“Texas A&M, USC, UCLA, and Washington, those are the top schools showing the most interest. Oh, Utah and Ole Miss. They are showing a lot of interest too.”

Do you have any unofficial visits lined up for the offseason?

“Yeah, I’m taking an unofficial to ASU on Feb. 27. I want to go to Ole Miss, Texas A&M, UCLA, and USC. If possible I want to visit Washington and Washington State. That’s it for now.”

There may be some overlapping here but are you going to attend any one-day college camps?

“Yes, all the schools I’m going to for unofficial visits I’m going to their camps. I want to camp at schools where they are interested in me.”

Are you participating in any spring sports for the Monarchs?

“I’m running track but not competing. I’m doing it just to stay in shape and work on my speed and power. I’m also doing some boxing. My uncle trains me. I spar a lot.”

You mentioned getting a 4.0 GPA earlier, do you have a GPA you don’t mind sharing?

“I have a 3.4 GPA.”

Have you taken the ACT or SAT yet?

“I take the PSAT on March 12.”

Alright Fa’avae, I’ve put you through enough questions today. Thanks for your time and good luck at all the college camps you have lined up.

“Thank you.”

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Fa’avae before an agility workout.

Photo credit: recruitingnewsguru.com; Fa’avae starts agility warmups with J.R. Redmond instructing.

Photo credit: youtube.com; No. 34 Fa’avae gets the tackle.