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Friday, April 23, 2010

Chiefs Select TE Tony Moeaki with second 3rd Round Pick

TONY MOEAKI
Tight End/H-Back
University of Iowa Hawkeyes
#81
6:03.0-252
Wheaton, Illinois
Wheaton-Warrenville South High School OVERVIEW
When on the football field, Moeaki (pronounced MO-ee-AH-kee) ranks with the elite tight ends in college football. After two years of playing the “caddy” to All-American tight end, Scott Chandler, Moeaki moved into the starting lineup for the first four games of the 2007 season.
Prior to enrolling at Iowa, Moeaki was a first-team All-American selection by Riddell, adding second-team honors by USA Today as a senior at Wheaton-Warrenville South High School. He added first-team All-State accolades from the Champaign News-Gazette, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois High School Association and Coaches Association.
Moeaki was a two-time first-team All-Area and All-Conference pick, and regarded as the top offensive prospect in the Dupage Valley area. The three-time varsity letter-winner competed as a tight end, fullback and linebacker for the Tigers. Moeaki recorded 975 yards and nine touchdowns on 59 receptions (16.5 ypc) and also registered 66 pancake blocks during his career. As a senior, he totaled a career-high 465 yards and five touchdowns at tight end. He was one of seven Iowa recruits to participate in 2005 Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas. In addition to competing in football, he added a pair of letters in both basketball and tennis.
As soon as Moeaki enrolled at Iowa, the coaching staff could see not only that he had incredible talent, but was an instant hit in the locker room. The freshman was named to the team’s Leadership Group and spent that first collegiate season as All-American Scott Chandler’s understudy at tight end. He appeared in twelve games, managing to grab eight passes for 112 yards (14.0 ypc).
As a sophomore, Moeaki again backed up Chandler. He saw action in all thirteen contests, grabbing eleven passes for 140 yards (12.73 ypc), finding the end zone three times. With Chandler gone to the NFL, Moeaki took over the tight end slot for the four games in 2007. He had fourteen receptions for 170 yards (12.14 ypc) and another three touchdowns. In 2008, Moeaki’s would manage to catch just thirteen passes for 144 yards (11.08 ypc) and a score, adding two solo tackles on special teams.
Hoping to change his luck, the new team captain opened the 2009 season with ten receptions vs. Northern Iowa, but suffered a high ankle sprain. He would eventually miss two games before returning, but made up for lost time, as he hauled in 30 passes for 387 yards (12.9 ypc) and four touchdowns, earning All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors while also receiving the team’s Hayden Fry Award (top offensive performer).
“Tony is a prototype," Iowa head coach Kirk Ferentz said senior tight end. "He has a good feel - knowing where to go without rushing. Finding a good NFL tight end is like finding a good 7-foot player in basketball. If you read the draft articles, one of the challenges for NFL people is trying to project what this guy is going to be like if you put him in a threepoint stance and ask him to block."
Many of those professional talent evaluators feel that Moeaki possesses the skills and size to join former Iowa stars Dallas Clark, Scott Chandler and Brandon Myers at the National Football League level. "You've got to be strong enough to block like an offensive tackle," Moeaki said, "and you've got to be quick and fast enough to get past the safeties like a receiver. You've got to be pretty versatile."
Over the last two seasons, the Hawkeyes were 12-1 when the tight end accounted for at least 50 receiving yards. "There are some teams that don't even use a tight end," Moeaki said. "And there are some teams that use one about half the time. At Iowa, the tight end is in every play."
CAREER NOTES
Moeaki started 15-of-48 games during his five seasons at Iowa, catching 76 passes for 953 yards (12.54 ypg) and eleven touchdowns…Scored 66 points and recorded five tackles (4 solos)…The Hawkeyes compiled a 12-1 record during the last two seasons when their tight end gained at least 50 yards in a game…Four-time member of the school’s Leadership Group…Moeaki set the school tight end game-record with ten receptions vs. Northern Iowa in 2009, topping the previous mark of nine grabs by Marv Cook vs. Ohio State in 1987.
2009 SEASON
The 2009 Leadership Group member earned All-Big Ten Conference first-team honors from the league’s coaches and second-team recognition from the media…The team captain was named a semi-finalist for the John Mackey Award, given annually to the top tight end in college football…Recipient of the team’s Roy J. Carver Most Valuable Player Award and the Hayden Fry Award (offense)…Named Big Ten, ESPN.com and National Tight End Performer of the Week by the College Football Performance Award committee for his performance vs. Michigan…Managed to rank fourth on the team with a career-high 30 receptions for 387 yards (12.9 ypc) and four touchdowns while starting all ten games he appeared in…Caught 57.69% of the passes targeted to him (30-of-52), as the opposition deflected seven of those attempts…15 of his catches produced first downs, as he converted 4-of-12 third-down and 0-of-2 fourth-down plays…Made five of his catches inside the red zone, including three on goal-line plays…Had thirteen receptions for at least ten yards, including seven for 20 yards or longer…Came up with key catches of two game-winning scoring drives and one six possessions that resulted in touchdowns, along with three drives that ended with Iowa field goals.
2008 SEASON
Named to the pre-season John Mackey Award Watch List, Moeaki played in nine games, starting vs. South Carolina in the Outback Bowl… Finished with just thirteen receptions for 144 yards (11.08 ypc) and a touchdown…Also recorded two solo tackles in the Outback Bowl vs. South Carolina.
2007 SEASON
Started the first four games at tight end …Was granted a medical hardship after he dislocated his left elbow and fractured a bone in his hand early in the first quarter vs. Wisconsin…Gained 170 yards with three touchdowns on fourteen receptions (12.14 ypg) and recorded two solo tackles – one each vs. Syracuse and Northern Illinois before being sidelined by his injuries.
2006 SEASON
Recipient of the team’s “Next Man In Award” (special teams)…Reserve tight end, appearing in thirteen games…Caught eleven passes for 140 yards (12.73 ypc), as three of those grabs resulted in touchdowns…Also recorded an assisted tackle vs. Illinois.
2005 SEASON
Played in twelve games behind Scott Chandler at tight end, as he also appeared with the special team coverage units…Caught eight passes for 112 yards (14.0 ypc).
CAMPUS AGILITY TESTS
4.84 in the 40-yard dash…1.65 10-yard dash…2.79 20-yard dash…4.23 20-yard shuttle…11.61 60-yard shuttle…7.22 three-cone drill…30.5-inch vertical jump…9’5” broad jump… Bench pressed 225 pounds 20 times.
HIGH SCHOOL
Attended Wheaton-Warrenville (Ill.) High School, playing football for head coach Ron Muhitah…First-team All-American selection by Riddell, adding second-team honors by USA Today as a senior…Earned first-team All-State accolades from the Champaign News-Gazette, Chicago Tribune, Chicago Sun-Times, Illinois High School Association and Coaches Association…Two-time first-team All-Area and All-Conference pick, and regarded as the top offensive prospect in the Dupage Valley area…The three-time varsity letter-winner competed as a tight end, fullback and linebacker for the Tigers…Recorded 975 yards and nine touchdowns on 59 receptions (16.5 ypc) and also registered 66 pancake blocks during his career…As a senior, he totaled a career-high 465 yards and five touch-downs at tight end…One of seven Iowa recruits to participate in 2005 Army All-American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas…Added a pair of letters in both basketball and tennis.
PERSONAL
Interdepartmental Studies/Recreation Management major…Son of Lose and Sione Moeaki…Born 6/08/87 in Wheaton, Illinois.

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