Saguaro’s Alani Ma’afu is an absolute wrecking ball in the middle of the Sabercat defense. The 2021 recruit racked up 136 tackles, 39.5 tackles for loss and six sacks over two years.
But head coach Jason Mohns has said the 6-foot-2, 285-pound defensive lineman has a big-man frame but the agility and footwork of a skills position player.
A lot of that comes from his rugby background. He has played for years and has traveled the nation competing in big-time tournaments.
On the recruiting front, Ma’afu holds offers from Memphis, Washington State, New Mexico, Montana State, Liberty, San Diego State, NAU, Tulane, Iowa State and Hawaii.
Among those programs he wants check out first is San Diego State, Iowa State and Montana State.
Ma’afu could pair up with his Sabercat teammate Darrion Dalton along the defensive line with the Aztecs, who committed to San Diego State a few weeks ago.
The defensive lineman went in-depth on how rugby has helped him, playing along the talented Saguaro defensive line and the latest schools pursuing him on the Venezia’s Pizzeria Recruiting Roundup.
