FanPost

The Cardinal Countdown...44 days until kickoff

Crystal LoGiudice-USA TODAY Sports

#44 Pio Vatuvei

Mtt-logo_medium

Class: Junior

Ht/Wt: 6-2/275

Position: Defensive End

Hometown: Patterson, CA

Twitter: None

Thoughts: Pio was a late edition to the Cardinal class this season. For those of you who follow recruiting closely (glad I don’t have to), you might remember Bobby saying he intentionally left a few schollys open at the end of the signing period to fill the holes with some JUCO guys. Typically that means he will access the team and bring in a talented but average player to help fill the voids. Not with this guy. Pio was a consensus 4 Star defensive end out of high school and had actually signed to play for USC (Southern Cal, not the Gamecocks) before switching his commitment to Washington. Vatuvei played sparingly as a Freshman but expected to fight for a starting spot his Sophomore year before being dismissed from Washington for a violation of team rules.

I think Pio will be nice addition to the line, especially with Lozo moving to linebacker. We need big bodies up front and Bobby and Grantham realized that. I’m not sure if he can unseat one of our journeymen along the line as a starter, but he’ll definitely give them a run for their money.

Sweet Tweet: Couldn’t find a Twitter account. I got distracted searching for info on Pio and literally just blew about 45 minutes watching this again. I’d just assume you all should procrastinate whatever you need to do this morning right along with me…

Never gonna get old.