2008 AIGA Foundation All Star Football Team: First Team Defense

DEFENSIVE LINE

Talia Crichton (Lakewood, CA) 6’4, 245, Sr

First Team All-State DI (Cal-Hi Sports). Second Team All State DI (Max Preps). All CIF-SS (Pac 5 Division). Long Beach Press Telegram “Dream Team.” Moore League Co-Defensive Line Player of the Year. Had 92 tackles and league-high 18 sacks. Will attend Washington.

Bronson Kaufusi (Timpview-Provo, UT) 6’7, 240, Sr

First Team All-State 4A (Deseret News and SL Tribune), Daily Herald Elite 11 and Defensive MVP. Father Steve Kaufusi is an assitant coach at BYU. 2010 verbal commit to BYU.

Iuta Tepa (Poly-Long Beach, CA) 6’2, 220, Sr

First Team All-American (Max Preps). First Team All-State DI (Cal-Hi Sports). First Team All-State DI (Max Preps). All CIF-SS (Pac 5 Division). First Team All-Los Angeles Times. LA Times Defensive Player of the Year. Long Beach Press Telegram “Dream Team.” Moore League Co-Defensive Line Player of the Year. Tepa had 102 tackles and 14 sacks. Will attend UCLA.

Siosaia Tuipulotu (Trinity-Euless, TX) 6’2, 275, Sr

Second Team All-State (5A). FW Star Telegram First Team. FW Star Defensive Player of the Year. Second Team All-Area Dallas Morning News. District 5-5A Defensive Player of the Year. Stuffed offensive line for Dallas-Forth Worth area’s top defense. Finished the season with 85 tackles including 15 tackles for loss and 4 sacks. Will attend Utah. Video Link

LINEBACKERS

Steven Fanua (Milpitas, CA) 6’3, 215, Sr

First Team All-State (Cal-HI Sports). Second Team All-State DI (Max Preps). First Team All-Metro (SF Chronicle). First Team LB (San Jose Mercury News). Santa Clara-De Anza Division MVP. Had 124 tackles and three sacks this season. 2008 Hawai’i/Polynesia vs. Mainland All Star Game participant. Will attend California.

Liloa Nobriga (Del Sol-Las Vegas, NV) 6’1, 220, Sr

First Team All-State (LV Review Journal), Sunset-Northwest Division Defensive Player of the Year. Led state with 185 tackles (36 solo) and 4 sacks according to Max Preps. Will attend Colorado.

Manti Te’o (Punahou-Honolulu, HI) 6’2, 235, Sr

USA Today All-American (Defensive Player of the Year). Max Preps All-American. First Team All-State (Honolulu Advertiser and Star Bulletin). State Defensive Player of the Year (Honolulu Advertiser and Star Bulletin). ILH Defensive Player of the Year. Butkus Award winner (Nation’s Top Linebacker). Registered 129 tackles, 11 sacks and 3 forced fumbles. Under Armour All-American All-Star Game participant. 2008 Hawai’i/Polynesia vs. Mainland All Star Game participant. Will be the second Samoan linebacker to attend Notre Dame.

Jeremiah Toma (Grant-Sacramento, CA) 6’0, 215, Sr

Second Team All-State DII (Max Preps). Third Team All-State (Cal-Hi Sports). First Team All-CIF Sac-SJ Section. First Team All-Metro (Sacramento Bee). Metro League Defensive Player of the Year. Had 165 tackles and 10 sacks this season. Will attend Fresno State.

DEFENSIVE BACK

Jamal Atofau (Bellevue, WA) 5’10, 190, Sr

First Team All-State (3A), Seattle PI First Team, Seattle PI Defensive MVP, First Team All Area Seattle Times. Bellevue Reporter Defensive Player of the Year. King Co (3A) Defensive MVP. Will attend Washington State.

J’Ray Galea’i (Kahuku, HI) 6’0, 177, Sr

First Team All State (Honolulu Advertiser and Star Bulletin). 2008 Hawai’i/Polynesia vs. Mainland All Star Game participant. Will attend BYU.

Jordan Poyer (Astoria, OR) 6’0, 172, Sr

Class 4A Offensive (QB) and Defensive (DB) Player of the Year. 2007 4A Second Team quarterback. Led Astoria to its first state football title as a senior. Passed for 2,362 yards (118-196) and 23 touchdowns last season, and added 1,770 yards and 39 touchdowns on the ground. Will attend Oregon State.

Aulola Tonga (Kahuku, HI) 6’3, 205, Sr

First Team All State (Honolulu Advertiser and Star Bulletin). 2008 Hawai’i/Polynesia vs. Mainland All Star Game participant. Will attend Hawai’i.