Fui Vakapuna
Running Back #1
Ht/Wt
6'
1"
|
253 lbs.
Class
Senior
Hometown
Glendale, 
Utah
Last School
East High School
Roster Years
2002-2003 | 2006-2008


Career Summary

Fui Vakapuna came to BYU from East High School in Salt Lake City and became a four-time letterwinner for the Cougars. He received the Leon White Award for Unselfish Devotion as a junior and the Robbie Bosco Award for Determination the following year. Vakapuna rushed for 445 yards on 92 carries his sophomore season before recording a career-high 97 yards on 14 carries against San Diego State as a junior. He ran for 291 yards on 54 carries, including three touchdowns. Vakapuna also caught 10 passes for 69 yards and one touchdown that year.

Professional

  • Selected as a seventh round pick by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2009

Personal

  • Native of Salt Lake City, Utah
  • Parents are Semisi and Uina Vakapuna
  • Oldest of eight children
  • Served a church mission in Carlsbad, California
  • Recruited by Nebraska, Utah, Oregon, Utah State and Washington
  • Married to Leonne

Before BYU

  • Three-year letterwinner at East High School in football and track
  • Finished fourth in the state in the 100 meters as a senior
  • Clocked a 40-yard time of 4.4 at Nike and Jamal Willis camps
  • Most Valuable football player at East High School and an all-state and all-region selection (regional MVP)
  • Credited with 112 carries for 1,107 yards as a senior
  • Recorded 20 receptions for 215 yards
  • Tallied 15 punt returns for 434 yards and 11 kick returns for 293 yards
  • Registered 12 touchdowns as a senior, including two defensive TDs
  • Credited with three interceptions and four sacks and two forced fumbles
  • MVP of national championship high school rugby team
  • A Polynesian All-State selection
  • Earned defensive MVP honors as a junior and team MVP honors as a senior
  • District 5 Offensive MVP

Stats

Rushing
2008 GAME BY GAME:
OPPONENT     ATT   YDS   AVG   TD   LONG
WASHINGTON   2     15    7.5   1    11     
UCLA         9     43    3.8   0    22
WYOMING      5     28    5.6   0    8
UTAH STATE   3      7    2.3   0    5
NEW MEXICO   1      9    9.0   0    9
TCU          3     -6    --    0    2
UNLV         9     71    7.9   0    33
CSU          2     17    8.5   0    11
SDSU         8     18    2.3   1    7
AIR FORCE    7     32    4.6   1    11
UTAH         4     36    9.0   0    11
ARIZONA      1      2    2.0   0    2
YEAR   GMS   ATT   YDS   AVG   TD   LONG   REC   YDS   AVG   TD   LONG
2003   8     30    157   5.2   1    28     6     29    4.8   0    11
2006   12    92    481   4.8   8    38     11    87    7.9   3    24
2007   10    73    252   3.5   2    18     1     4     4.0   0    4
2008   12    54    291   4.9   3    33     10    69    6.9   1    12     
TOTAL  42    249   1181  4.7   14   38     28    189   8.8   4    24    
CAREER HIGHS
CARRIES: 16 (VS. BOISE ST; OCT. 30, 2003)
YARDS: 97 (AT SAN DIEGO STATE; DEC. 1, 2007)
TD: 3 (VS. UTAH STATE; SEPT. 23, 2006)
LONG: 38  (VS. TULSA; SEPT. 9, 2006)
BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year 2003

  • Earned letterman honors as a freshman
  • Played in eight games during the season
  • Rushed 30 times for 157 yards
  • Scored one touchdown
  • Averaged 19.6 rushing yards per game
  • Rushed 16 times or 87 yards against Boise State
  • Rushed seven times for 56 yards against Utah
  • Participated in spring drills, averaging over two yards per carry and scored two touchdowns during spring scrimmages
Sophmore Year 2006

  • Earned letterman honors as a sophomore
  • Saw action in 12 of the Cougars' 13 games
  • Battled an ankle injury late in the season
  • Produced 445 yards on 92 carries during the season
  • Had eight rushing touchdowns
  • Averaged 4.8 yards per carry
  • Had a season-best 13 carries against Utah State
  • Totaled a season-high 89 yards rushing against Tulsa, including a memorable, hard-hitting 38-yard run
  • Credited with 11 receptions for 87 yards on the season, including three touchdown receptions
Junior Year 2007

  • Earned letterman honors as a junior
  • Received the Leon White Award for Unselfish Devotion
  • Slowed by injury throughout the season
  • Played in 10 games during the season
  • Had 73 carries for 252 yards, averaging 3.5 yards per carry
  • Credited with a season-high 97 yards on 14 carries in the Cougars' win at San Diego State
  • Scored two touchdowns on the season
Senior Year 2008

  • Earned letterman honors as a senior
  • Started eight games at fullback
  • Ran for 291 yards on 54 carries, totaling three touchdowns
  • Caught 10 passes for 69 yards and one touchdown
  • Longest run of the season was for 33 yards against UNLV
  • Won the Robbie Bosco Award for Determination
Graduate Year

Redshirt Year 2002

  • Redshirted as a true freshman
  • Valuable contributor on the scout team
Medical Redshirt Year 2002

Redshirted as a true freshman ... a valuable contributor on the scout team.



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