By Mason Kelley
GoHuskies.com

Siosifa Tufunga never planned on playing football growing up.

His mother, Salote, insisted her son spend more time on schoolwork than athletics.

“My mom didn't let me play football,” said Tufunga, now a senior at Washington. “She told me to stay focused on school.”

But, with a cousin, Taniela Maka, recruited to play Division I football at UNLV and a football coach at Long Beach Jordan High School pushing Tufunga to give the game a try the offensive lineman saw an opportunity.

He told his mother that playing football could lead to a scholarship – a free college education. Tufunga was heading into his junior year. Salote relented. She let her son play football.

“Go try it out, but if your schoolwork suffers, you've got to quit football,” Tufunga said, looking back on what Salote told him.

By the time he was a senior, Tufunga was a college prospect with an offer from Washington. 

“I was blessed to get the scholarship,” Tufunga said.

And Salote was elated her son earned the opportunity to continue his education at an elite institution.

Football provided a path for Tufunga to grow as both a student and athlete.

“For a lot of us, football is a great way – it's not the only way – to get a higher education, get a degree,” he said. “You can't play football forever. We all know that. So, if we get that degree, we will be able to continue on with our future and be successful in life.”

Now a fifth-year senior, Tufunga is a strong student in the classroom and a team captain on the field. One of only five seniors on the Huskies' offense – two offensive linemen – Tufunga has been thrust into a leadership role. 

 

If he notices a younger teammate struggling with footwork, he offers advice learned during his time in the program. If he is watching film with teammates, he will “point things out.”

His goal is to do whatever he can to make sure, “everybody is learning, improving, getting better.”

In 2014, Washington had plenty of veterans along the line. Experience wasn't an issue. This year, though, the Huskies are looking to new faces to step in and replace players like Micah Hatchie, who graduated, and Dexter Charles, who had to medically retire from football.

After playing in all 14 games last season – he started five – Tufunga's veteran presence is invaluable. But, despite his experience, he went into fall camp determined to “compete for an opportunity.”

“It's all about competition and helping each other out,” he said.

Washington coach Chris Petersen has set a lofty standard for the Huskies. Tufunga is working to “meet that standard.” 

Football wasn't always part of the plan for Tufunga, but the game provided a means to a college education. Looking back on how he got here and where he is headed, Tufunga smiled.

“I'm blessed with the opportunity to just be here, to play Husky football,” he said.