Paving the way is all the glory Will Ta'ufo'ou needs

Ta'ufo'ou heading to the "Windy City"

Will Ta'ufo'ou starts his transition from being a Golden Bear to being a Chicago Bear at this weekend's rookie mini-camp. He's not just going there to participate.

For Ta'ufo'ou, this is only the beginning of "a new adventure" in which the final destination is a starting fullback position in the NFL.

When I spoke with him by phone, he was very clear that he intends to not only compete for a spot on the 53-man roster, but that the main reason he chose the Chicago Bears over nine other NFL teams was due to it being his best opportunity to start.

I just felt like, with the situation they had with their fullbacks, and with what I can do, and the amount of recruiting they did to get me to go there...was a lot more productive and higher interest than other teams.

Out of the 10 teams showing interest in signing the fullback after the draft, Ta'ufo'ou pared his list down to four before finally deciding to make a move to the "Windy City" to become...err...remain a Bear. NFL Bears fans should start practicing how to say his name starting now, because there's a good chance that they'll need to say it at the water cooler on Monday mornings this coming season.

I think the main thing that caught my eye was the fact that I could go in there and fight for the starting job and just be able to participate on special teams, and make the 53-man roster.

Ta'ufo'ou, pronounced 'tau-FOE-oh', can be a difficult name to pronounce for some. Even I can admit that when I knew I'd be interviewing the Cal/Chicago Bear, I developed a mental block which prohibited me from being able to say his name - a problem that I hadn't had previously.

So, I asked him if he wouldn't mind saying his last name out loud for me, giving him a hearty laugh before he obliged. I still probably deserved a 'C-' in my attempt to say his name, but I'll give myself an 'A' for effort.

At Cal, Ta'ufo'ou was the lead blocker for two different rushers who gained more than 1,500 yards. When those stats were mentioned at the end of those respective seasons, Ta'ufo'ou's name wasn't part of the discussion. What makes him an unsung hero and a Cal-fan favorite is that his glory is found by helping the team do well.

It wasn't easy to become the fullback that he is today. There were some hurdles that he had to overcome before he was able to accept his role on the team, and his responsibilities. He was up-front about his transition from being a ballcarrier to being a good fullback.

The main thing is just being able to compete and just understanding the game. You know at first, when I got to Cal, I was so used to getting the ball and making so many plays, I didn't really understand what it meant to play fullback. I think towards my second or third year, when I started playing more, I sort of realized that, you know, it takes a really special person to play fullback, to really understand how to take the angles, and make the right reads and play fast because it's crucial for the fullback to get out of the way for the tailback to go through the hole.

In high school, Ta'ufo'ou was a running back and a linebacker - two positions that are more suited to praise and adulation by fans. Adulation aside, he is very much appreciated from fans in Berkeley. Unfortunately, he's so humble that he wasn't aware that he's a fan-favorite. "Really?" He asked, oblivious to his appreciation from Bear Backers.

It's this sort of humility that makes him so likable and explains, to a certain extent, the sort of mentality required in order to excel at the fullback position. His description of what he likes about being a fullback is even more telling.

I don't know. I think it's a lot more than people think it is, as far as mentally and physically. I think, you know, just knowing to be a part of the play that allows the running back to spring is a...even though it's not just you, it's 11 guys doing it, and knowing that you're part of it, and knowing that the tailback is running right off your butt. It's a great feeling.

Being in a backfield with players like Justin Forsett, Shane Vereen, and Jahvid Best doesn't leave many opportunities for the fullback to carry the ball. Ta'ufo'ou doesn't worry about that sort of thing anymore. He told me, "You know there's always glory with touching the ball, but the thing is to understand your role. It's something that I've gotten used to and I understand now."

Along with the talented tailbacks that he's blocked for, Ta'ufo'ou also has had to compete with NFL-caliber tight ends as the safety valve on passing plays. Both Craig Stevens (Tennessee Titans) and Cameron Morrah (Seattle Seahawks), have helped take those opportunities away for receptions.

In the NFL, he'll have to be ready to receive passes any time the quarterback drops back. I asked him to rate his ability to be that safety valve for Jay Cutler. "I actually feel very comfortable," he said in a matter-of-fact way. "I pride myself with my hands and even though I didn't get to show it as much at Cal, I feel that I have good hands and it's something I won't have a problem with."

Becoming a starting fullback in the NFL may be another thing that Will Ta'ufo'ou (tau-FOE-oh) doesn't have a problem with either.

NOTES:

Face value - Ta'ufo'ou says that he's pretty much an open book when he says, "You know, for me, I think, what you see is what you get. I just try to live to the best that I can, try to be the best person I can."
On Ta'ufo'ou's mindset as he prepares to attend his first NFL mini-camp: "You know, right now, what's going through my mind is after building the last five years here at Cal, it's kinda' like that whole phase ended and now I'm about to start a new one. A new adventure, new struggles, new challenges, and it's really about competing again and showing who I am and what I can do and being able to do what I did over here [Cal] - being able to do that when I go over there [Chicago]."

Check out what my colleague Patrick Ibarra (Sacramento Sports Examiner) wrote about Alex Mack and the draft:

The NFL Draft’s best pick: Cal’s Alex Mack

He also has a great take on the Worrell Williams situation:

Sacramento native Worrell Williams goes undrafted, to work out with 49ers

Great articles by a true pro.

Check back later for more!