Mike Iupati, OG

While offensive tackle is generally considered the "glamour" position when professional teams analyze blockers eligible for the draft, many teams feel that it is an offensive guard who is the finest prospect among the 2010 draft's "big men" -- Michael Iupati. Before his final season, Iupati could have become rich if he charged a nickel for every time someone in the media asked, "who's he?"

By the end of his 2009 campaign, even the casual football fan recognized his ability to dominate the action in the trenches. As a senior, he became the first Idaho Vandal to earn All-American accolades since Hall of Fame offensive guard Jerry Kramer in 1957. Kramer received honorable mention while Iupati garnered numerous first-team mentions.

Iupati was named one of three finalists for the 2009 Outland Trophy, alongside Russell Okung of Oklahoma State and eventual winner, Ndamukong Suh of Nebraska. Since the inception of the award in 1946, only major college players were bestowed that honor. The last time a non-BCS school featured a player who was even a finalist for the award was in 1992 -- offensive tackle Willie Roaf of Louisiana Tech.

Iupati is no stranger to the media that covered the Western Athletic Conference, though.

The two-time winner of Idaho's Wayne Anderson Coaches Award, he was recently selected to the WAC's All-Decade Team. He was the only active player chosen to that unit.

The left offensive guard led the major colleges with a blocking consistency grade of 90.38% in 2009, as he went on to solidify his "pedigree" with an excellent week of displaying his skills vs. the more publicized linemen during practices leading up to the Senior Bowl. He was just the eleventh player in school history to play in that prestigious all-star classic, and the first since 2000. Based on reports from every pro team, he certainly made a lasting impression.

"Mike's performance this season has established himself as potentially the best offensive guard in the upcoming NFL draft," Senior Bowl President and CEO Steve Hale said. "Anyone who watched him play this year knows that he was clearly a difference maker for the Vandals."

Born and raised on American Samoa, Iupati's family moved to Garden Grove, California, when he was age fourteen. He had just finished junior high school and was still learning English. While his family stayed with relatives the first year, he was not given much of an opportunity to settle in quickly in the classroom.

Iupati attended Western High School, where he began playing football under the guidance of Odell Harrington, the school's half-Samoan football coach. Playing lineman on both sides of the ball, Iupati received All-State and All-Conference honors and served as a team captain. As a junior, he recorded 80 tackles and 12 sacks, earning first-team All-CIF honors. He also excelled while competing for the school's wrestling and track teams.

Despite his postseason honors, Iupati received only a two-star recruit rating from both Rivals.com and Scout.com. Further hampering major colleges pursuing him was his struggles academically, caused by a language barrier, as English was only his second language.

Iupati eyed junior college as his only option to continue playing football after he failed to produce a high enough SAT score or sufficient grades to attend a major college. That was until then-Idaho assistant coach Johnny Nansen saw him at a barbecue in 2005 that a junior college was putting on for potential recruits. Nansen offered him a spot at Idaho the next day and spent considerable time trying to convince Iupati and his family that the school was a better route than junior college.

Because of his academic problems, Iupati was ineligible to play and therefore unable to receive a scholarship or financial aid. His family took out a loan to pay out-of-state tuition and room and board for his first year. He finally joined the Vandals football team in 2006, seeing action in a backup role vs. Washington State, Oregon State and Hawaii as a redshirt freshman.

As a sophomore in 2007, Iupati started all 12 games at left guard and became in impact player on the line for the Vandals. He helped the team average 349.67 yards per game in total offense, producing 70 knockdowns/key blocks with eight touchdown-resulting blocks. He suffered a shoulder sprain late in the campaign vs. Louisiana Tech that forced him to undergo offseason surgery.

Iupati sat out 2008 preseason drills while recovering from shoulder issues. The injury would also sideline him for the first two games of his junior campaign before he returned to action vs. Western Michigan. He went on to start eight of the 10 games in which he played, earning second-team All-Western Athletic Conference recognition, as he delivered 81 knockdowns/key blocks, along with clearing space for 10 touchdowns by the running corps.

The 2009 season was not only highlighted by Iupati earning All-American first-team honors and being named a finalist for the Outland Trophy, but also saw the offensive guard lead the Vandals to their first winning season since 1999 and their first bowl victory since 1998, as the defeated Bowling Green, 43-42 in the 2009 Humanitarian Bowl.

Iupati registered 102 knockdowns/key blocks, as his 19 touchdown-resulting blocks led the major college's interior blockers in 2009. He did not allow and quarterback sacks while participating on 396 pass plays, guiding an Idaho aerial attack that finished 12th in the nation with an average of 286.69 yards per game passing. The Vandals also placed ninth nationally in total offense (451.38 yards per game) and 20th in scoring (32.69 yards per game).

2008 GAME

Arizona and Idaho State … Sat out the Vandals first two games while recovering from surgery performed due to a late 2007 shoulder injury.

San Diego State … Iupati graded a career-best 97%, as he posted eight knockdowns, along with two touchdown-resulting blocks … The left guard cleared a path used by Troy Vital for a fourth quarter 2-yard touchdown run … With 7:13 left in the game, he capped an 8-play, 74-yard series when he drive defensive end Ernie Lawson to the ground, creating a cutback lane used for a 12-yard scoring scamper by Princeton McCarty … Head to Head Competition-DT#99-Ernie Lawson (6:03-303)-No tackles … Iupati Offensive Impact-The left guard recorded eight knockdowns with two touchdown-resulting blocks and one down-field block, grading 97% … Helped the team gain 182 yards rushing, 169 yards passing and generate 351 total yards on 74 plays.

Nevada … The junior was credited with eight more knockdowns … In the third quarter, his slip block let him get out and stop the backside pursuit from defensive end Dontay Moch, giving QB Nathan Enderle time to throw a 10-yard touchdown to slot receiver Eddie Williams … Head to Head Competition-DT#94-Mundrae Clifton (6:02-293)-No tackles … Iupati Offensive Impact-The left guard recorded eight knockdowns with one touchdown-resulting block and one down-field block, grading 91% … Helped the team gain 24 yards rushing, 292 yards passing and generate 316 total yards on 75 plays.

Fresno State … For the third-straight game, Iupati did not allow his blocking assignment to record any statistics … In the fourth quarter, a 60-yard 6-play drive ended when the left guard shoved defensive tackle Mark Roberts out of the way on a 2-yard touchdown run by Deonte Jackson … Head to Head Competition-DT#99-Mark Roberts (6:04-302)-No tackles … Iupati Offensive Impact-The left guard recorded nine knockdowns with one touchdown-resulting block, grading 90% … Helped the team gain 215 yards rushing, 237 yards passing and generate 452 total yards on 78 plays.

CAREER NOTES

Iupati started 33-of-35 games during his last three seasons at Idaho … In 2009, he became just the second non-BSC player to be named a finalist for the Outland Trophy since the award's inception in 1946 … Also became the first Vandal to ever earn All-American first-team honors. The last Vandal to be recognized as an All-American was offensive guard Jerry Kramer in 1957, who was named honorable mention … In his final two seasons at left offensive guard, Iupati registered 183 knockdowns/key blocks, with 29 touchdown-resulting blocks and 15 downfield blocks.

All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, Walter Camp Football Foundation, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers of America, Associated Press and Sports Illustrated, adding second-team honors from The Sporting News … Finalist for the Outland Trophy, joining Willie Roaf of Louisiana Tech (1992) as the only non-BSC school members to ever be named a finalist for that award … First-team All-Western Athletic Conference choice and also named to the WAC's All-Decade team … Was voted captain by his teammates … Two-time winner of Idaho's Wayne Anderson Coaches Award … Iupati had one of the most successful senior seasons in Vandal history … Starting all thirteen games at left offensive guard, he led the major college's interior linemen with a blocking consistency grade of 90.38%, including a Football Bowl Subdivision-record nine performances with grades of 90% or better … Registered 102 knockdowns/key blocks to go with nineteen touchdown-resulting blocks and nine blocks downfield … Was penalized four times, but did not allow a quarterback sack on 396 pass plays … Led the Vandals to their first winning season since 1999 and their first postseason bowl victory since the 1998 campaign … Paved the way for a team that ranked ninth in the nation in total offense (451.38 yards per game), 12th in passing (286.69 yards per game) and 20th in scoring (32.69 points per game).

All-Western Athletic Conference first-team choice by The NFL Draft Report … Despite undergoing off-season shoulder surgery that would sideline him for the spring and fall camps, along with keeping him out of the Vandals' first two contests vs. Arizona and Idaho State, Iupati returned to start eight of the team's final eight contests at left offensive guard, coming off the bench in his 2008 debut (vs. Western Michigan) and in his final game (vs. Hawaii) … Still managed to lead WAC offensive guards with 81 knockdowns/key blocks and ten touchdown-resulting blocks … Graded 84.2% for blocking consistency, achieving grades of 90% or better in three consecutive appearances -- vs. San Diego State, Nevada and Fresno State … Wore down a bit late in the season, as he allowed four of the five sacks he gave up as a junior to occur in the final three contests.

Iupati emerged from fall camp as the Vandals' starting left guard, staying in the lineup for all 12 games … Recorded 70 knockdowns/key blocks, along with eight touchdown-resulting blocks, helping the Vandals average 349.67 yards per game in total offense, including 191.5 yards passing and 158.17 yards rushing.

Saw action in a backup role on the offensive line, appearing in the Washington State, Oregon State and Hawaii contests.

Focused on academics as a non-qualifier as English was not his native language.

2007: Suffered a shoulder sprain vs. Louisiana Tech (11/03) that limited his performance in the next contest vs. Boise State (11/17).

2008: Underwent shoulder surgery after the 2007 season that would force him to sit out spring and fall camp, along with missing the first two games of the schedule vs. Arizona (8/30) and Idaho State (9/06).

Campus: 5.2 in the 40-yard dash … 1.71 10-yard dash … 2.96 20-yard dash … 4.78 20-yard shuttle … 7.52 three-cone drill … 26-inch vertical jump … 7'8" broad jump … Bench pressed 225 pounds 27 times … 475-pound bench press … 605-pound squat … 34 3/4-inch arm length … 10 5/8-inch hands.

Attended Western (Anaheim, Cal.) High School in 2005, playing football for head coach

Odell Harrington … The team captain was a two-way lineman, receiving All-State and All-Conference honors as a senior … Despite his postseason honors, Iupati received only a two-star recruit rating from both Rivals.com and Scout.com … As a junior, he recorded 80 tackles and 12 sacks, earning first-team All-CIF honors … Also excelled while competing for the school's wrestling and track teams.

General Studies major … Younger brother, Andrew, is a defensive tackle for the University of Oregon … Son of Belinda and Aposetolo Iupati … Born 5/12/87 in American Samoa … His family moved to the United States when Michael was age 14, moving in with relatives in Garden Grove, Calif … Resides in Anaheim, Calif.