| No. 7 Nebraska Danger | |
| Quarterback | |
| Personal information | |
|---|---|
| Date of birth: June 13, 1987 | |
| Place of birth: Stockton, California | |
| High School: St. Mary's | |
| Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | Weight: 215 lb (98 kg) |
| Career information | |
| University: Arizona | |
| Undrafted in 2009 | |
| Debuted in 2011 for the Nebraska Danger | |
| Career history | |
|
|
| Career highlights and awards | |
|
|
Willie Coonley Savea Tuitama (born June 13, 1987 in Stockton, California) is an American football quarterback for the Nebraska Danger of the Indoor Football League.
Contents |
Born the son of Lui and Nancy Tuitama of Stockton, Willie attended St. Mary's High School (Stockton, California). In 2005 he was ranked by SuperPrep All-America, its No. 16 quarterback. He received PrepStar All-America honors, as well as votes in the Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West Poll. Named Cal-Hi Sports third-team All-State. As a Senior, he completed 158 of 254 passes for 2,734 yards, with 32 touchdowns, with only 7 interceptions. Led St. Mary's to California's Division I sectional championship, beating Nevada Union High School, 50-45 with Tuitama completing his last 11 passes. He had no incompletions in the second half. His team finished 13-1 and Tuitama led the league in passing yards, completing 17 of 23 passes for career highs of 312 yards and five touchdowns in his final prep game. Following the year he was named a Max Emfinger top 30 dropback QB list with 4.5 stars, CollegeFootballnews.com No. 12 QB prospect nationally. He was a two-year letterman in football and once in baseball. He was also named a Rivals.com 4-star prospect.[1]
After being contacted by many Pac-10 teams, he was offered a scholarship from Washington and Arizona Wildcats. He chose Arizona, where he majored in family studies and human development. He became the all-time leader in career passing yards (9,211), single-season passing yards (3,683) and career passing touchdowns (67).[2] Despite his illustrious college career (topped off with his being named MVP of the 2008 Las Vegas Bowl[3]), an untimely DUI arrest likely influenced his name not being called in the 2009 NFL Draft.[4]
After taking extra classes at Arizona and working part-time at a local Buffalo Wild Wings restaurant,[5] Tuitama finally got the chance to play pro football when the expansion Nebraska Danger indoor football team signed him.[6]
Tuitama is a relative of Junior Seau and Brandon Manumaleuna.