Q: Do We Need A Harvey Unga Thread?

[HairOnFire]

Twenty teams attend Harvey Unga's workout

Former BYU running back preparing for supplemental draft

Aaron Wilson

July 09, 2010

Former Brigham Young running back Harvey Unga auditioned for 20 NFL scouts Thursday, running a 4.64 in the 40-yard dash.

Preparing for the upcoming supplemental draft, the 6-foot-1, 245-pounder also bench pressed 225 pounds 19 times and posted a 9-6 broad jump and a 35-inch vertical leap, according to the Salt Lake Tribune.

Unga withdrew from school this spring because of an honor code violation.

Unga's fiancee, former BYU basketball player Keilani Moeaki, recently gave birth to a son.

Unga said he has no hard feelings toward BYU.

"If I am bitter, that's the wrong thing to do," Unga said. "I made the mistake. I am a grown up, I am a man now. I signed the honor code when I got here. I had a violation. For me to be bitter, that's absolutely not the case. ..

"I made a mistake. I am dealing with it, making the most of the situation I am now in," he said. "I have no regrets."

Per the report, a Chicago Bears scout ran the drills.

The Philadelphia Eagles, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New Orleans Saints and the Seattle Seahawks displayed the most interest following the workout.

Also attending the workout, per the Tribune: the Green Bay Packers, Kansas City Chiefs, St. Louis Rams, Indianapolis Colts, Pittsburgh Steelers, Detroit Lions, Atlanta Falcons, New England Patriots, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, New York Giants, Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and the Miami Dolphins.

[Kazkal]

How good of a Runner is he? wasn't Fui a RB for BYU? wouldn't complain if they picked the guy up.

[jjakq27]

For a minute, I thought it was another LeBron side-show or something.

[TJJackson]

Does Unga have the Hunga?

I am sure this is also a good segway to the classic old "Unga Bunga" joke

[HairOnFire]

How good of a Runner is he? wasn't Fui a RB for BYU? wouldn't complain if they picked the guy up.

Well, he is BYU's all-time leading rusher.

And yeah, I know.....it's BYU.

Still, there is a possibility Benson might be suspended so another physical power back might be attractive. And as much as I like Vakapuna! I can't help remembering how the coaching staff said he wasn't ready last year before cutting him. They brought him back but I'm guessing the Bengals interest in Unga means the FB role isn't set in stone.

Or maybe they're just kicking the tires, right?

[HairOnFire]

Does Unga have the Hunga?

Yup, and it got him kicked out of school.

[HairOnFire]

Bengals - 24 Positions In 24 Days: FB

By Marc HardinPublisher

Posted Jul 8, 2010

PROJECTED STARTER: Fui Vakapuna

BACK-UP: Joe Tronzo

FAST FACTS: Fui Vakapuna, a cousin to Vikings fullback Naufahu Tahi, also is the son-in-law of Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (Del. American Samoa). Vakapuna served a two-year church mission in college and earned Brigham Young's Leon White Award for unselfish devotion. Leon White played linebacker for the Bengals from 1986-91, following his BYU career. Joe Tronzo was a 2009 nominee for the Wuerffel Trophy, given to the NCAA football player who best combines excellence in academics, athletics, and community involvement. Neither fullback has played a down in the NFL.

Fui Vakapuna A former MVP of a national championship rugby team during his high school years, Vakapuna once was described as a "mini-Mack truck on jet fuel" during his playing days at BYU. The 26-year-old second-year Vakapuna, at 6 feet, 257 pounds, is a bit bigger than the 23-year-old Joe Tronzo (5-11, 240), who is an undrafted rookie free agent trying to make an NFL roster for the first time. Vakapuna, featured prominently on last year's HBO Hard Knocks series, has the experience of having gone through a training camp, and nearly surviving. He was one of the Bengals' final cuts on Sept. 5, and was brought back for the final nine games after being picked up by Arizona Nov. 4 and placed on the Cardinals' practice squad. One concern about Vakapuna is his durability. He had some injury history at BYU. He underwent ankle surgery following his sophomore season. He was sidelined for three games during his junior year because of a hand injury. His senior year he was hampered by a lingering hamstring injury he suffered the previous June while running for pro scouts. At BYU, he earned a reputation for being hard-working and helping the quarterback sell ball fakes while jolting defenders at the point of attack and blocking with a nasty attitude.

Joe Tronzo The apparent slight edges in favor of Vakapuna will mean nothing if Tronzo can combine superior strength with a quick mastery of the position and flatten would-be tacklers just as he did at Louisville. Tronzo, a four-time USAPL National Powerlifting champion and a three-time Class AAA state shot put champion with the state-record throw, is very strong and quite athletic. Though Tronzo was a tad faster in the 40-yard dash in college (4.64 to Fui's 4.70), the Bengals are preparing him for the speed of the NFL game and working on his technique. At Louisville, Tronzo was a tough, hard-working lead blocker who played with a smart, aggressive style. If he had a weakness, it was his lack of quickness and burst and lack of experience as a ball-handler. However, the Bengals did not believe Tronzo was a good fit in the Louisville offense and feel he offers upside as a power blocker in a power running attack. Edges Tronzo may possess in the position battle against Vakapuna include durability (he did not miss a game in four years at Louisville) and his special teams ability.

The Bengals appear to have become comfortable with both untested players. It has been quiet this offseason regarding 2009 opening day starter, Jeremi Johnson, who has not made a late-joining appearance as he did last year following a season away from the team due to weight and injury concerns. The Bengals have a history of keeping just one fullback on the opening-day, 53-man roster. And all they generally ask of him is to stay healthy, block effectively and catch the occasional pass. The Bengals rarely ask their fullback to carry the football, much less carry any kind of rushing burden. That won't bother Tronzo, who rushed just three times as a senior. Vakapuna played some running back and totaled 126 carries for 513 yards his last two seasons at BYU. He had over 1,100 rushing yards in college. Tronzo had less than 100. Still, whoever stays healthy and blocks the most effectively during training camp and preseason is going to win the job. In the event the Bengals become dissatisfied with both fullbacks, they won't hesitate to pluck a better one off the waiver wire. But history under coach Marvin Lewis, who tends to like his former players better than players he's never coached, says he'll go with either Vakapuna or Tronzo, and try to find a way to keep both of them around given Vakapuna's injury history. If Fui starts, the Bengals may try to stash Tronzo away on the practice squad.

/>http://cin.scout.com/2/982816.html

[HairOnFire]

Unga's draft workout might raise supplemental profile

July 8, 2010

By Jason Franchuk

The Sports Xchange/CBSSports.com

PROVO, Utah -- Harvey Unga is trying to get drafted, a goal he had decided to delay after last season.

But that was before he found himself without a team -- or a school to attend -- when he was dismissed from BYU for allegedly having an inappropriate relationship with his girlfriend. The school prohibits premarital sex, and Unga became a father for the first time over the Fourth of July weekend.

Unga held a workout Thursday to showcase his ability and there was no shortage of interest.

Harvey Unga's route to the NFL won't be what he expected. (US Presswire)

He measured right at 6-1, 244 pounds and worked out in front of 20 NFL teams. He's been getting word that St. Louis, Miami, Kansas City and Pittsburgh have the most interest. Six teams also requested a DVD of Unga's July 8 workout on the BYU campus.

Despite facing several nagging injuries during his three-year BYU career, he rushed for more than 1,000 yards in each season. He was slowed by the school's stringent honor code policy, however, which forbids premarital sex, alcohol and tobacco.

He tried to submit his case for appeal to remain in school to BYU officials who handle such cases -- with the backing of head coach Bronco Mendenhall -- but was ultimately turned down and kept from enrolling for one year.

Rather than wait two full years for entry into the NFL, Unga decided to turn pro.

NFL teams don't appear to have any concerns about Unga's character. BYU did know of a few issues coming out of high school -- Unga is from the Provo area -- but that didn't prevent him from earning a scholarship.

Those questions are not an issue for NFL teams either, according to NFLDraftScout analyst Chad Reuter, who was not at the workout but estimated Unga could be a fourth- or fifth-round pick next week.

A team submitted a pick for a player in the supplemental draft must forgo the corresponding-round selection in the following season's draft. The Rams have priority billing in every round because they held the No. 1 overall pick in 2010.

"I've had one guy tell me he could potentially go in the third," Reuter said. "Unga's a solid guy who kind of got a bad deal. I don't think that's going to be a big deal -- why he was dismissed from school. But I think he's going to fit in a system. He's not going to burn, but he's going to run hard and he has better feet than people give him credit for."

Reuter said Unga will have to become a better pass blocker. But he can catch passes out of the backfield.

Unga didn't drop a single pass, thrown at all sorts of angles Wednesday from former BYU quarterback Charlie Peterson.

There were 28 running backs invited to NFL Combine Feb. 24-March 2. Unga, thinking he was still enrolled and in good standing with BYU, opted not to enter the draft. Fourteen running backs were drafted in the 2010 draft, but only one compared to Unga physically -- fullback/tight end John Conner, a 5-11, 246-pounder from Kentucky. It's possible Unga could be drafted as a short-yardage specialist or convert to fullback.

Unga's fiance, Keilani Moeaki, gave birth to the couple's first child -- a son, Jackson, -- on the Fourth of July. Moeaki, who was also dismissed from BYU, is the sister of former Iowa tight end Tony Moeaki.

"I'm not bitter at BYU," Unga said. "I have no hard feelings. I just have to get ready for this next part of my life."

UNGA WORKOUT RESULTS

40 time: 4.63

Bench press: 19 reps of 225 pounds

Vertical: 35 inches

Broad Jump: 10-0

Short shuttle: 4.49

Where will Unga land?

NFLDraftScout Senior Draft Analyst Rob Rang and Draft Analyst Chris Steuber chime in:

Rob Rang, Senior Draft Analyst:

Unga's powerful downhill running and surprising lateral agility make him an ideal candidate for any offense in need of a big back. Unga's soft hands and willingness to block mean that he can contribute on all three downs -- a rarity for rookie backs.

The St. Louis Rams could decide where Unga lands. The Rams boast one of the NFL's best backs in Steven Jackson, though Jackson has a history of injury and depth behind him (Kenneth Darby, Chris Ogbannaya, Keith Toston) is questionable at best.

Multiple NFL teams give Unga a fourth-round grade but felt the BYU back could slip at least a round or two in the July 15 supplemental draft due to the general hesitancy of clubs to give up future draft picks.

Chris Steuber, Draft Analyst:

Not that it's a huge need for the Eagles, but running back is a position in transition with LeSean McCoy taking over the spotlight, featured role from Brian Westbrook. Even though they have a crowded depth chart at the position, which features the likes of Leonard Weaver, Mike Bell and sixth-round pick Charles Scott (LSU), coach Andy Reid could make an exception for a player from his alma mater. The all-time leading rusher in BYU history, Unga has rushed for over 1,000 yards and recorded double-digit touchdowns in each of his three years with the Cougars. If selected by the Eagles, Unga offers strong competition to Scott and could develop into a short-yardage option if injuries occur.

[ArmyBengal]

We need our 4th next year to draft Kai Forbath. Then again, that might take a 3rd.

[jjakq27]

Found out his real first name is Cowa and his middle initial is B. His folks were fans of the Ninja Turtles.

[DC_Bengals_Fan]

Christ, this guy got booted from school for tapping a little ass? Reason #2325 not to attend a religious school.

I say....bid a 5th.

[BengalPimp]

We need our 4th next year to draft Kai Forbath. Then again, that might take a 3rd.

I'm with you brother. I've been Pimpin' Forbath for a while and would have been willing to spend a 3rd Rd pick(maybe even higher) on him had he come out early.

I mean, the guy was 25/25 from 49 yards or less last year, and in his 3 year career at UCLA is 9/12 from 50+.....Accuracy AND Distance.

[BengalPimp]

Does Unga have the Hunga?

I am sure this is also a good segway to the classic old "Unga Bunga" joke

Since most people have already heard the joke...I'll take it somewhere else...and suggest this as his "Theme Song"

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3887t3M4llI

[COB]

So Harvey got kicked not only off the football team, but completely out of school, for doinking his girlfriend? I do a lot of business with Mormons, and I travel to Salt Lake at least once a year, and the Mormons I know would all think this was totally stupid.

Regular LDS church members are great people, but once you start getting into the upper reaches of the LDS hierarchy, they start to lose their marbles.

[ArmyBengal]

Non-issue, as Unga got picked by the Bears in the 7th round. The Bengals apparently aren't to worried about things in our backfield.

[BengalPimp]

The dude was a college RB, size or not, he would be raw as a FB. We don't need a project at FB, if we did, hell...I'd say put Jason Shirley's 400lb ass at FB...He failed at DT, and probably will as an O-Lineman, so why not FB on short yardage plays?

P.S. I am only joking.....

[HairOnFire]

The dude was a college RB, size or not, he would be raw as a FB.

Perhaps, but his greatest assets were said to be as a receiver and a blocker. In fact, if judged soley as a RB Unga's speed, quickness, and running ability are decidely average, but if viewed as a FB his measurables become almost elite. I even stumbled across one scouting report that not only projected him to play FB in the NFL but also described Unga as a Brian Leonard type.

Regardless, we move on.