From banana plantation worker to college football star, meet Michigan portal target Fa'alili Fa'amoe

Nobody would have expected the biggest steal in the 2020 recruiting class to be tucked away in American Samoa.

Well, almost nobody.

Pago Pago Leone head coach Duke Elisaia knew he had something special in Fa’alili Fa’amoe, who is now one of the hottest names in this winter’s transfer portal cycle after a stellar career at offensive tackle for Washington State.

“My cousin was coaching, and I met Fa’alili when he was a sixth grader,” Elisaia said. “He was really young. His freshman year, he really started separating himself from everyone in the way he worked. I felt like he was really going after something. He knew what he wanted. He doesn’t come from a rich family. His dad was a contractor, but back home, sometimes, it’s hard to find work. He comes from a humble background and upbringing, and that taught him hard work.”

While his friends took summer vacations or simply enjoyed the serenity of their home island, Fa’amoe spent his free time helping his father at construction sites and working long hours on a banana plantation.

That work ethic transitioned over to the football field as Fa’amoe outhustled his peers and blossomed into a star defensive end. Fa’amoe, who stood at 6-foot-5, 215 pounds as a senior, was a force off the edge and had the look of a DI pass rusher.

However, Elisaia’s most fond memory of Fa’amoe actually had nothing to do with his game changing sacks or violent hits. Instead, Elisaia pointed to Fa’amoe’s willingness to take over at quarterback — a position he had never played — when Leone’s starter went down two games into his final year of high school.

“That’s why he deserves everything he’s getting,” Elisaia said. “He never played quarterback, but he was the only one to step up to do it. You talk about being a great teammate. He took all the punches that came with it like people yelling from the stands. He didn’t do so well (laughs). People didn’t like when he was playing quarterback, but they loved him when he came in on the defensive side.”

Little did everyone know that Fa’amoe’s future would in fact be on the offensive side of the ball.

Hawaii was the only school to offer Fa’amoe before former head coach Nick Rolovich took the Washington State job. As soon as that move happened, Rovolich and his staff went hard after Fa’amoe and earned his commitment on National Signing Day.

Fa’amoe was a true sleeping giant. After arriving at Washington State, Fa’amoe spent two years nursing a knee injury and developing behind the scenes, adding almost 100 pounds to his frame. That transformation led to Fa’amoe transitioning from defensive end to offensive tackle.

Fa’amoe started seven games in his first season and flashed a ton of potential.

“The last time he played offensive line was elementary and youth football,” Elisaia said. “I wasn’t really surprised, though, because I know how he works and what he can do when he puts his mind to something. I was more surprised that he didn’t let the adversity of switching positions affect him. For that to happen with him transitioning to being in the states, it shows that he can overcome any adversity.”

Fa’amoe became a full-time starter over the next two seasons and earned some NFL Draft buzz before deciding to enter the transfer portal.

Now, Fa’amoe is the highest ranked offensive lineman still on the market. And it’s not hard to see why. Fa’amoe is a physical, high ceiling dancing bear who projects as an impact starter at right tackle next season.

“He’s very athletic,” Elisaia said. “I love watching big guys that can move like they are point guards at 300-plus pounds. That really impresses me about him. Also, how he’s picked up on the game and how much he loves football. He loves to learn and perfect his craft.”

Fa’amoe is strongly considering LSU, Nebraska and Michigan, which hosted him for a visit last weekend — right before the dead period. Michigan head coach Sherrone Moore, who led U-M to back-to-back Joe Moore Awards as offensive line coach, is personally leading the way in his portal recruitment.

Moore spent extended time with Fa’amoe during his stay in Ann Arbor and pitched him hard on development. That certainly moved the needle, but Fa’amoe still needs a bit more time to make his final decision.

“I think he’ll be a great fit at Michigan,” Elisaia said. “Fa’alili has proven time and time again that he’s able to overcome adversity and make big decisions on his own. I trust his decision making. I’ve been a fan of Michigan and think he’ll fit in really well there. But at the end of the day, it’ll be up to him. Fa’alili is a family guy. Other than God, his parents and family come first.

“He’s been like that since I’ve known the kid. What he’s looking for is a family-oriented home. That’s what it’ll probably come down to when he chooses a program — where he feels at home.”

Whether Fa’amoe’s college football career continues at Michigan or at another program, his incredible true story should be admired.

And Elisaia couldn’t be prouder.  

“I use him as an example every day,” Elisaia said. “He’s so deserving of all of this. The sacrifices one is supposed to make for his dreams, he made them.”