Fui Vakapuna

Fui Vakapuna
No. 37
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1984-03-09) March 9, 1984 (age 40)
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school:East (Salt Lake City, Utah)
College:BYU
NFL draft:2009 / round: 7 / pick: 215
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Fui Vakapuna (pronounced foo-ē vac-uh-poo-nǎ; born March 9, 1984) is a former professional football fullback of American Samoan descent. He was selected by the Cincinnati Bengals in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL draft.[1] He played college football at BYU.

Professional career

Cincinnati Bengals

His attempt to make the Bengals' roster was chronicled on the HBO series Hard Knocks: Training Camp with the Cincinnati Bengals.[2] Vakapuna was released by the Bengals after the preseason and signed to the Arizona Cardinals practice squad. On November 3, 2009 the Bengals re-signed him to their 53-man roster.

New York Jets

Vakapuna was signed by the New York Jets on May 23, 2012.[3] He was waived with an injury settlement on August 1, 2012.[4]

Personal life

He is a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He served a mission in the Carlsbad, California area from 2004 until early spring 2006. Vakapuna is a cousin to former Vikings fullback Naufahu Tahi and his father-in-law was American Samoa's governor Eni Faleomavaega. Vakapuna married his wife on July 11, 2009.

Vakapuna has served as the Assistant to the Athletic Director for Student Services at Brigham Young University beginning in 2013.[5]

References

  1. ^ "2009 NFL Draft Listing". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved May 13, 2023.
  2. ^ "Hard Knocks IV". Archived from the original on March 8, 2012. Retrieved September 2, 2011.
  3. ^ Vrentas, Jenny (May 23, 2012). "Jets to sign free-agent fullback Fui Vakapuna". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on May 25, 2012. Retrieved May 23, 2012.
  4. ^ Vrentas, Jenny (August 1, 2012). "Rex Ryan frustrated by depleted receiving corps". The Star-Ledger. Archived from the original on December 3, 2013. Retrieved August 1, 2012.
  5. ^ "Fui Vakapuna Staff Bio". April 18, 2017.