Rio Mesa’s Liaina is the real deal

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

Ina Liaina might be an unfamiliar name to some in Southern California, but it’s a name that I’ve heard many good things about in recent conversations with college football scouts and those so-called experts from the recruiting services.

Figured it was about time to see what Liaina (pronounced Lee I Nuh) was all about, so I jumped in my truck last week and headed north on the 101 toward his high school, Rio Mesa in Oxnard.

And let me tell you something, first impressions last a lifetime.

You can’t help noticing that he looks a lot bigger than the 6 feet, 220 pounds he’s listed at on MaxPreps.com. Secondly, the senior is of Samoan decent and has locks, and locks, and yes, more locks, of curly black hair hanging out from underneath his helmet. Think Troy Polamalu, pictured above ...

‘I’m never cutting my hair, it’s who I am’’ Liaina said.

Fair enough.

The hair talk quickly becomes an afterthought once Spartans Coach Bob Gregorchuk blows his whistle, signaling the beginning of practice. That’s when the show begins. On both sides of the ball, mind you.

First, Liaina lines up at fullback and flashes a glimpse of his 34-inch vertical. His reported 4.6 time in the 40-yard dash is legitimate too, because once he gets out in space, going north and south, look out. Dude can move.

Defensively, he’s got a nose for the ball and is involved in numerous plays from his linebacker position, too many to count. Granted it was a practice, but he was far and away the best player out there. Superior at times.

‘He’s a unique athlete, one of the best we’ve ever had here,’’ Gregorchuk said. ‘His football IQ is off the charts. He has an uncanny knowledge of the game and the physical attributes to back it up. ‘’

Liaina, did, however, sustain a foot injury in Friday’s 35-21 loss to Dos Pueblos and has not practiced this week as a precautionary measure. The setback has done little to stop the hype machine from generating steam though.

Scout.com believes Liaina is best suited on offense at the next level, rating him as the 10th best fullback in the nation. Rivals.com thinks otherwise, giving him three out of five stars as an inside linebacker prospect.

‘I’ll play wherever for whoever,’’ Liaina said.

He has scholarship offers on the table from BYU, Oregon St. and San Diego St. but is noncommittal at this stage of game. Arizona St., Hawaii, Oregon and USC have also expressed interest.

‘I don’t have a dream school right now,’’ Liaina said. ‘All I want to do is go out there and prove myself in every game and every practice. The rest will fall into place.’’

So far, so good.

- Sean Ceglinsky, guest blogger

-- Image by Jamie Mullen/US Presswire