DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Linebacker, 6-3, 218 pounds Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. Age: 17
College choice: Undecided. Details: Through 13 games, had 63 tackles, including 12 for loss. Had four sacks, four quarterback hurries and one fumble caused. Toughest offseason workout: Every Saturday, I’ve been doing this camp called Prime Time Polynesian. It’s three workouts in three hours. We go through field training and weights and competition. It’s run by my dad (Turnbull Tuliaupupu) and my uncle (Pene Talamaivao). I’ve been doing that since I was little.
Favorite game-day ritual: What always gets me hyped up is I like to do as many push-ups as I can. I do as many as I can, and then once it starts to burn, I count to 50 and do 50 more. Favorite phone app: Twitter.
What motivates me: My family motivates me the most. Just chasing the dreams, being successful. Fondest memory this season: Beating St. John Bosco. Mistake I learned from: You shouldn’t try to burn bridges with anyone. Guilty TV pleasure: South Park. It’s funny. Favorite current song: Pardon Me by Rich the Kid. Favorite oldie: Anything on Tha Carter II by Lil Wayne.
Favorite teacher: My junior year history teacher, Mr. (Bruce) Pottorff (at Claremont High). I liked him because the way he taught. He had a crazy amount of energy every day. He made it fun to come to school. Least-favorite class all time: English. Yearbook mention, besides football: It used to be best hair, and then I cut my hair and donated it. Probably photo bomber of the year.
My overused phrase: Man. I’d like to come back as: Either a sea turtle or a shark.