Enele Will Spring Into Defensive Position In Friday Game

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Velepoto Enele (center) performs agility drills with teammates during the Sabers’ spring football practice. Photo by Byron Lee, .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

When the Campbell football team takes the field Friday night for its spring game, defensive tackle Velopoto Enele will still be considered a relative newcomer by varsity football standards, having played on the JV the last two seasons.

But if word hasn’t yet spread to future opponents about the 6-foot, 300-pound Enele, those within the Campbell program already know what he’s capable of.

“The first thing I noticed was that he was instantly a leader,“Campbell head coach Amosa Amosa said. “He’s talkative, encouraging, always pushing the other players. The way he carries himself is really positive. He’s a good example for our players.”

Enele and the Sabers began spring practice last week and will be in full pads for much of this week in preparation for Friday’s game. The arrival of spring ball for them is much welcomed after months of weight training and agility-related workouts. This week is the first and last time players will be able to go full contact until the official opening date of fall camp in July.

While the winter months may be among the more grueling for a football player, with no game to look forward to at the end of a week - as is the case during the OIA season - Enele soaked up every minute of his off-season.

“Not (hard) at all,” said Enele. “With the help of my teammates and coaches, it’s fun and it’s exciting. I always wanted to play football, and I want to improve on everything.”

If he has his way, Enele will move on to college football

in two years. The youngest of five children born to Velopoto Sr. and Luavalua, Enele is the only one in his family to play organized football.

“I thought football could help me to help my family, if I was able to make it to the next level,” said Enele, an A and B student in the classroom.“I’m taking it step-by-step - (planning for) college first.”

Enele’s more immediate transition is from JV to varsity. While diligent in the weight room, a real practice is a better indication of his progress, as he found out last week during his first varsity practice.

“It was different - varsity (level) is a lot quicker and faster,” he admitted. “I kind of struggled with my foot-work, but it was good.

“We’re all excited and can’t wait to put the equipment on. We’re a very close team, and we want to get to the regular season.”

Campbell finished 2-4 in the OIA Red West last year, and hopes are high for an improved campaign in 2010. Amosa noted that the Sabers could employ the 3-4 even more, in large part because of the addition of Enele.

“We’re tinkering with the 3-4 and, hopefully, he’s a big part of this (more 3-4 sets),” Amosa said. “(Enele) is perfect a nose guard. He’s low to the ground, he’s strong, and he’s hard to move. We have some agile linebackers, too.”

In Friday’s spring game, which begins at approximately 6 p.m., Enele expects a workmanlike mind-set visible on the field.“People will see a hard-working team. We all push each other, and the coaches push us, too. We all work together.”