Seven local football players signed their National Letters of Intent (NLI) on National Signing Day on Wednesday, Feb. 4 at the Department of Education’s main office, in Utulei, with 5  of the 7 from Tafuna High School, which has no trouble meeting the number of players needed each year for its official football team roster — unlike the other high schools on island (government & private) which often have team members playing both offensive and defensive positions in the same game.

The standout football players are: Logan Tago (Samoana), Eperone Moananu (Tafuna), Amosa Sakaria (Tafuna), Aukuso Tua (Tafuna), Lyle Siu (Tafuna), Navy Mulipola (Tafuna) and Eldon Aydon (Leone).

This event on Wednesday was repeated across the U.S. as National Signing Day is usually the first Wednesday of February and it’s the first day a high school senior can sign a binding National Letter of Intent for college football with a school that is a member of the NCAA.

The next NLI signing day will by on April 15. According to Tumaua Matu’u of the American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA), this will be the last signing for athletes for this school year. The signing will cover all other sports as well as those football players who were not prepared to sign this past Wednesday, on the 4th.

PLAYERS

LOGAN TAGO

Tago will be headed to Washington State University, home of the Cougars. The 6’4 225 pound Tago, who played outside linebacker for the Sharks was known for his prowess, frustrating opposing offense on every play, especially disrupting or intercepting passes. Tago also played in the 2015 5th Annual Polynesian All-American Bowl (PAAB) last month in Oceanside, California. He was considering offers from three other schools: Colorado State (Rams), University of Hawaii (Rainbow Warriors), and University of Washington (Huskies).

EPERONE MOANANU

Standing at 6’2 and weighing in at 285 pounds, Moananu will be heading to Hawai’i to play for the University of Hawaii Rainbow Warriors. Moananu helped the Tafuna Warriors to two American Samoa High School Athletic Association (ASHSAA) football championships. He was part of a winning tradition of lineman at Tafuna High School where he played on the offensive line. Head coach of the Rainbow Warriors Norm Chow has stated that one of the things he will be looking at this year is improving the offensive line. Moananu also played in the PAAB.

AMOSA SAKARIA

Sakaria joins Tago as one of two commitments from the territory headed to Washington State. The 6’3 280lb offensive lineman was part of a winning tradition at Tafuna High School while in the trenches opening up gaping holes for the Warriors running game that helped lead them to victory more than once. Like Tago and Moananu, Sakaria was also invited to play in the PAAB. Another offer he was considering was from the University of Hawaii (Rainbow Warriors)

AUKUSO TUA

Another lineman from Tafuna will be joining the ranks at New Mexico Military Institute (NMMI). Tua was part of that winning tradition at Tafuna where he possessed power playing both sides of the ball on the offensive and defensive line.

LYLE SIU

Playing his hand as the wide receiver spot for the Warriors, Siu will also be heading to the New Mexico Military Institute. Siu helped lead Tafuna to the championship game this season.

 NAVY MULIPOLA

Just like Warrior teammate Tua, Mulipola made his presence felt down in the trenches on the offensive and defensive side of the ball for Tafuna High School. He will be going to the New Mexico Military Institute, where he will join Tua and Siu.

ELU AYDON

Aydon was able to wreak havoc playing defensive tackle for the Leone Lions, stopping ball carriers dead in their track. By using that big 6’2  310lb frame, coupled with nimble feet, Aydon was able to catch the attention of schools such as the University of Wisconsin (Badgers), University of Nevada (Wolf Pack), University of Hawaii (Rainbow Warriors), Colorado State University (Rams) and Oregon State University (Beavers). In the end, the big Aydon chose Oregon State University, home of the Beavers.