Kihei trio take another shot at pros | News, Sports, Jobs

Posted by Lorie Orum on Friday, May 17, 2024

Tau Lotulelei of the Aviators breaks up a backward lateral and forces a turnover by the Jousters’ James Graham during a Spring League game last week. Tau Lotulelei’s Aviators beat brother John Lotulelei’s Jousters 28-0. Andy Nietupski photo

All three grew up in Kihei as part of large families. All three are linebackers, each pursuing another shot at professional football after standout college careers.

All put non-football lives on hold to take their chances in The Spring League, which is currently playing a five-week schedule in a bubble environment in San Antonio due to COVID-19 concerns.

John Lotulelei, Tau Lotulelei and Mo Vainikolo make up perhaps the most unlikely trio of compadres in the football universe.

“It’s a blessing — when I was back on Maui that’s all we ever looked up to, was playing football,” John Lotulelei said. “The more we achieved the more we can have the younger guys look up and give them more aspiration and chance to not just settle, not just settle back at home — ‘Go after your dreams.’ “

John Lotulelei, a 28-year-old graduate of Baldwin High School and University of Nevada-Las Vegas, is the oldest of the three. He has played in 18 NFL games over three seasons for Jacksonville and Seattle, the last being for the Jaguars in 2015.

The Jousters’ John Lotulelei brings down the Aviators’ De’Veon Smith during their game last week. John Gutierrez photo

He also spent time on the rosters of the Raiders and Cowboys, who cut him in September 2017, his last taste of the NFL.

“I really think I’m out here just to see if I still had it in me,” Lotulelei said after Tuesday’s practice with his team, the Jousters. “Obviously any opportunity opens up, I will take it. No big hopes on it, but just want to see where, how I was physically. For a whole year, I haven’t done anything.”

It was a call from The Spring League CEO Brian Woods a few weeks ago that got Lotulelei — a father of four young children who runs a roofing company in Dallas — to take one more shot at pro football.

Lotulelei left an impression on Woods from a stint in the development league in 2018.

“Brian called me and said: ‘Come check this out, it’s going to be televised,’ “ Lotulelei said. “I didn’t take it too seriously until he sent me the info, what was going on. I told my brother about it to see if he wanted to go. They contacted both of us and now we’re out here in San Antonio playing. … This is a growing organization. We’re glad to be a part of it.”

Mo Vainikolo (right) of the Blues closes in on Alphas running back Brian Burt during the Blues’ 19-0 win over the Alphas last week. Andy Nietupski photo

Tau Lotulelei, 25, walked on before earning a scholarship at UNLV after a standout career at Maui High. He has been in camp with the Toronto Argonauts of the CFL and played for two teams in the now-defunct Alliance of American Football.

“I’ve been bouncing around,” Tau Lotulelei said. “I was with my brother actually for the San Diego Fleet (of the AAF). They cut me and I got picked up by the Atlanta Legends and was with them until the league got shut down. Ever since then — it’s been about a year — I’ve just been training and working with my brother John.”

Lotus Leaks and Roof Restorations is the company John and Tau Lotulelei stepped away from temporarily to give their football careers another shot.

“This opportunity came ­up,” Tau Lotulelei said. “Everything’s been great so far, you know, another opportunity.”

While his older brother may be on one of his final chances to get back to the NFL, Tau Lotulelei is trying to make his first big splash in professional football. The pair come from a family with 11 siblings.

“I feel like I’m in the best shape and I’ve actually learned a lot about myself and how I can play better at the next level. It’s been really fun, another opportunity for me,” he said. “We’re having a blast out here.”

After all, they are playing the game they love.

“We just came out here with the intention of really just having fun because we know what we can do on the field,” Tau Lotulelei said.

His Aviators team defeated John Lotulelei’s Jousters 28-0 in the opener for each last week. While official statistics are not easily accessible, Tau Lotulelei estimated his older brother had more than 10 tackles in the game, while Tau’s count was “six or seven.”

“We had a game last week and I did pretty well, made several tackles, made some pretty impact plays,” John Lotulelei said. “So, it felt good, it did motivate me to hopefully, possibly get back on anywhere.”

John Lotulelei had more fun watching his brother play.

“He balled out … I was proud watching him make plays on the other team,” he said. “It was pretty special. He looks young, he still looks great, he’s fast. … Tau looked great, he has a chance, yeah, for sure.”

The Aviators will face Vainikolo’s Blues team in a game televised on FS1 today at noon HST.

“I’m out here with my brother but to have Moana here as well, it’s the greatest feeling,” Tau Lotulelei said. “Having three Maui boys — Kihei boys, we all grew up with each other — so we’re just out here having fun. Can’t say nothing more about that — we’re just out here doing what we love. That’s what we love to do, play ball and have fun.”

Vainikolo, a Maui High and University of New Mexico graduate, was disappointed to not get a chance as an undrafted free agent after the NFL draft in April.

“About a month or a couple weeks ago I got a call from my agent,” said Vainikolo, 23. “He said, ‘Hey man, The Spring League is on, you go for a month. I hope you’re in shape. I hope you’re ready.’

“The good thing was I was in shape. I was ready, as far as being in shape mentally and physically. I put in the work, man. This opportunity just popped up. … I couldn’t let (the draft) be the end of it.”

He had recently taken a job with UPS but gave it up to take this shot at football.

It has been more than 10 months since he played football, but he is trying to show his ability as a linebacker and as a special teams player. He liked what he was able to show last week in a win over the Alphas.

“I’m cutting up all these plays, sending every play to my agent, just making sure, big or small plays I’m sending it to my agent,” Vainikolo said.

Like Tau Lotulelei, Vainikolo looks up to John Lotulelei and the path he has traveled.

“John had a hell of a game (last week),” Vainikolo said. “That’s all I’ve been doing, taking notes. You can just tell the way he plays, his experience, his experience in the NFL, his knowledge, it allows him to play quicker. With so much experience, I can tell how good he is.

“That’s basically all I’ve been doing, being a student of John, studying John, the way he’s playing. I feel like that’s definitely going to help me. I keep telling him every time I see him around the hotel: ‘Man, who would’ve thought three Kihei boys being out here?’ “

At 6-foot, 220 pounds, Vainikolo knows he has other things to overcome. His is the youngest of nine siblings, eight of whom are boys.

“My older brothers, they always remind me that, ‘Hey, if there’s one kid who knows how to fight the fight, it’s you,’ “ Vainikolo said. “It’s kind of nothing new — it’s always been an uphill battle, a constant uphill battle, but I’m embracing it.”

John Lotulelei, like Vainikolo, came through the junior college ranks before a two-year stint with UNLV that was capped by a 120-tackle season as a senior.

“I talk to Moana all the time, he’s a great, real good at learning — he’s a great learner,” Lotulelei said. “I’m not on his team, but I ask, whenever he needs help let me know.”

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com.

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