BYU offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia prepares to go block throughout spring observe on the indoor observe facility in Provo on March 10, 2023. If Suamataia declares for the draft subsequent season, he’s anticipated to be an early-round choose within the 2024 NFL draft. Ryan Solar, Deseret Information
BYU offensive lineman, Kingsley Suamataia, grants an interview after the Cougars observe in Provo on Friday, March 17, 2023. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
BYU offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, proper, and different linemen trot again onto the sphere because the Cougars observe in Provo on Friday, March 17, 2023. Says offensive line coach Darrell Funk of his group: “I'm assured that we'll hit the bottom operating and have a terrific yr.” Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
As one of the vital closely recruited prep soccer gamers in state historical past a number of years in the past, Orem Excessive’s Kingsley Suamataia had his future all mapped out.
The five-star recruit who was ranked as excessive as No. 36 within the nation within the 2021 class deliberate to play for the Oregon Geese for 2 years, then enter the 2023 NFL draft.
“Straight out of highschool, I needed to be two years in school and out. However the man upstairs had totally different plans for me, and right here I'm.” — BYU left deal with Kingsley Suamataia
“Straight out of highschool, I needed to be two years in school and out,” he stated. “However the man upstairs had totally different plans for me, and right here I'm.”
The place the 6-foot-6, 315-pound offensive lineman is now's at BYU, anchoring an offensive line that many imagine will likely be higher in 2023 than it was in 2022, regardless of the losses of Blake Freeland, Harris LaChance, Joe Tukuafu and Clark Barrington.
Suamataia has moved from proper deal with, the place he shined in what was his redshirt freshman season — he began in 12 video games and by no means allowed a sack — to left deal with, the spot held down the previous few years by Freeland.
Suamataia acknowledged to the Deseret Information final week that it will “most likely” be his closing season at BYU. So whereas Freeland will nearly definitely be the primary Cougar taken April 27-29 at Union Station in Kansas Metropolis, his successor at left deal with will fairly doubtless be the primary Cougar taken within the 2024 draft in Detroit.
“I undoubtedly wish to play within the NFL,” Suamataia stated. “That may be a no-brainer. So nonetheless this season goes (would be the figuring out issue), however I'm actually wanting ahead to it. It isn't a lot to comply with different individuals’s footsteps, however taking my very own path and seeing what most closely fits me and my household.”
As for switching positions on the OL, Suamataia stated he feels snug enjoying anyplace on the road besides middle.
“I want left deal with, however I may play any one in every of them, so it's good,” he stated. “Final yr, Blake was the veteran there (at left deal with) and so I labored to play no matter place they wanted me to play at.”
Freeland was sensational within the NFL mix earlier this month in Indianapolis, setting a mix file with a mark of 37 inches within the vertical bounce. He ran his first 40-yard sprint in 4.99 seconds and his second in 4.96 seconds.
Suamataia wasn’t shocked.
“Enjoying with him, enjoying on the opposite aspect of him, it's nothing new,” he stated. “I knew what he was going to do. I knew he was going to run quick and bounce far and excessive. That’s Blake.”
BYU offensive lineman, Kingsley Suamataia, grants an interview after the Cougars observe in Provo on Friday, March 17, 2023.
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Stated offensive coordinator Aaron Roderick on Freeland’s efficiency at BYU’s professional day final Friday: “Blake is a freak. He's essentially the most athletic massive man I’ve ever seen. He's explosive. His skill to vary course at his dimension is superb. He additionally brings quite a lot of toughness, which is what makes him an elite participant.”
BYU offensive line coach Darrell Funk stated Suamataia isn’t fairly as tall as Freeland, however has most of the similar attributes.
“As a lot of a freak as Blake was on the NFL mix and all the things, Kingsley is tremendous athletic and in quite a lot of methods extra (athletic) than Blake, in some cases. So we haven’t misplaced something there.”
Funk, who has coached offensive line at Michigan (2011-14) and Purdue (2016) within the Massive Ten, says Suamataia is a type of Energy 5-caliber gamers that BYU will want within the Massive 12, even whether it is only for one yr.
“We try to get a greater sort of participant right here yearly,” Funk stated. “But when I'm not mistaken, the final two years we had been 8-3 in opposition to Energy Fives. So it isn't like we haven’t performed these guys. I imply, we play the massive boys.
“Michigan and the Massive Ten, yeah, the top-level packages there are robust. There are some lower-level groups which might be nothing to jot down dwelling about when it comes to that.
“Actually the bodily degree is there within the Massive Ten. However the Massive 12 is terrific, and we're going to need to step up our recreation. Our gamers need to get higher, our teaching has to get higher, now we have to recruit higher. That’s simply a part of it.”
With Suamataia and different professional prospects comparable to middle Connor Pay, Utah switch Paul Maile and left guard Lisala Tai, Funk says the basis has been set for one more good season.
“I'm assured that we'll hit the bottom operating and have a terrific yr,” he stated. “I imagine that.”
BYU offensive lineman Kingsley Suamataia, proper, and different linemen trot again onto the sphere because the Cougars observe in Provo on Friday, March 17, 2023. Says offensive line coach Darrell Funk of his group: “I'm assured that we'll hit the bottom operating and have a terrific yr.”
Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information