Recruiting on the South Plains | JUCO OL Lio Lafaele Commits to Texas Tech

Texas Tech has secured it's third commitment for the 2015 class, dipping into the JUCO ranks for Riverside C.C. offensive lineman, Lio Lafaele.

SCOUTING REPORT | Lafaele originally signed with Utah coming out of high school, originally from Corona, California. Lafaele didn't qualify academically and ended up at the same JUCO as Darrin "Big Money" Chiaverini, Riverside C.C. Lafaele talked about his decision to attend Riverside (via Desert News):

"Right out of high school it was like you’re jumping out in the wild," he said. "You don’t really know what you’re doing."

Lafaele looked into going to a JC and noticed RCC’s success on the field and its success at sending players onto four-year programs.

"This school gets players out so who doesn’t want to come to a good football team?" he said, noting the program’s attention to academic progress also helps. "They not only prepare you for the JC level but also the DI level."

Lafaele was generally regarded as a 3-star player coming out of high school, with his only offer from Utah coming out of high school and he talks about how he matured, giving a lot of credit to Chiaverini (via WreckEm 24/7):

"It’s just a blessing, right out of high school I didn’t know what I was doing," Lafaele said. "I committed to Utah, next thing you know I was at Chiaverini’s doorway. He helped me to go from a boy to a man at the JC level, now I have the opportunity to go from the JC level and show my talent where the big boys play at and it’s an awesome feeling."

Lafaele plays mostly right tackle on his film and he's incredibly athletic for his size. He moves around really well for a guy his size and he punishes opponents. Lafaele never doesn't up on plays and you can tell that he's got a really nice punch as he's a strong player that can control the defender with his arms and terrific footwork. Again, it is Lafaele's athleticism and footwork that's the most impressive. Maybe the best part of the video is when he pulls from the tackle spot to completely blowout the defenider, just a beautiful play that shows what he can do.

Lio, welcome to Texas Tech and Git Your Guns Up!

2015 Texas Tech Football Commits

PREVIOUS CLASSES ON VTM:
2014 Commits
2013 Commits
2012 Commits
2011 Commits
2010 Commits
2009 Commits