2012 OL Fehoko Fanaika Commits to LSU (Resigned in 2013 Class)

There is a little paradise (sarcasm) in Texas called Euless Texas. Home of the Trinity Trojans. There is a huge population of Tongan people there. I always wondered why we never tried to recruit out of there, because that area is a hotbed for talent. The D/FW area has tons of talented players, but Euless Trinity has these massive Tongan linemen.

Texas Football Team Thrives On Tonga Connection : NPR

 

I don't know, but I've seen some of Hoko's highlights and this guy ain't no joke. He is the real deal. Tonga Truck would be a good nickname and description.

 

Wait, did you say Toga?

 

He didn't qualify per Facebook. Very disappointing. Hopefully he'll be here in January.

 

Miles said he expects both Fanaika and Johnson to be at LSU in January. Both I believe were headed for redshirts in 2012 season anyway but does put them behind in workouts during fall, missed practices, etc of course. The good news is if they come in January, then they still will count in 2012 class. Just looked at LSU's roster and there isn't close to 25 (scholarship seniors + juniors expected to go early into the draft) guys leaving at the end of the season. The good news for several guys leaving the program is it kept the signing numbers up lately. The bad news for these same guys leaving over the last few years is that it now results in small senior classes which means attrition must continue or LSU is going to start signing in the high teens in recruiting instead of 25. Last thing LSU needs is for these guys to slide into the 2013 class...they really need to get here for the January enrollment.

P.S. The count I just made for scholarship seniors was only 10. LSU might be a couple short of 85 coming into 2012 season and of course there will be some juniors leaving early, but still....

 

We could have at least 6 guys leave after their Jr. year this season. Too much talent.

 

LSU is going to need more like 12 to leave early unless they do the "nudging routine" which all the major programs do. Basically, they show you where you are on the depth chart and magically you transfer. Didn't the NCAA talk about letting schools do the 4 year scholarship deal ...good luck on getting the major programs to actually elect to do that. The math tells the story (5 yrs x 25 signees) = 125 (5 is used assuming everyone redshirts). That is 40 above the NCAA limit of 85 total.

I laugh when SOME people criticized burning Ronald Martin's RS season at the end of the year. Let's "logic" this out shall we. 4 x 25 is 100 and only 15 above the limit if no one ever redshirts. Example: assume Martin is a future pro stud. What are the odds that the guy is EVER going to see his RS SR year? 0% chance? Take the opposite view that he is a total bust. Why worry about a guy who is never going to contribute much? These days, you don't redshirt unless you have little choice...the numbers are against you as we are talking about now and the NFL draft will take them after 3 years anyway if they are really good (TR JR/RS SO). Some people have been concerned about the 25 limit and who can we take. I'm more concerned about the 85 total limit. Technically, I think LSU could take 27 or so this year (backdating 2 early enrollees) except for the 85 deal.

 

Any update?

 

Nice. He's a big boy. He's probably going to be backing up Turner and Collins, but depth is always an issue on the O-Line. You can never have enough road graders.