Estimated read time: 2-3 minutes
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Haloti Ngata has the dream down pat. Not just the dream he's had of playing in the NFL, but of being in New York City on draft day...and hearing the commissioner call his name.
"SITTING THERE AT A TABLE WAITING FOR A PHONE CALL AND THEN THE OAKLAND RAIDERS PICKING ME." . Whether it's Oakland...or Cleveland...or as one mock draft has it...the Buffalo Bills ...Ngata is ready for the challenge.
"FOOTBALL'S ALWAYS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE...BEING IN THE NFL HAS BEEN A DREAM OF MINE SINCE I WAS A KID."
A kid that moved to Utah at the age of 6...A kid that grew into a massive force at Highland High school where he became a Parade and Army All-American. .
A young man when he went to Oregon...where the 6-5, 338 pound defensive tackle became the Duck's first concensus All-American in 43 years. . Then after his junior season...Ngata was ready for the NFL.
"FIRST I HAD A MEETING WITH MY MOM ASKING HER IF I SHOULD GO OR LEAVE...I THOUGHT I SHOULD GO...I WAS THERE 4 YEARS SO IT's NOt LIKE I WAS LEAVING EARLY CAUSE I REDSHIRTED." . That meeting with his mother...would be one of his last. Olga Ngata died in January of cardiac arrest. His father Solomon passed away 3 years ago.
"FOR MY DAD AND MY MOM...THEY'RE FINALLY TOGETHER WATCHING ME TOGETHER ...IT GIVES ME MORE PASSION AND FIRE AND MAKE THEM PROUD."
And that passion is what prospective teams will be watching. It was a question when 22 teams spoke with him at the recent NFL combine.
"THEY ASKED ME AOUT MY MOTOR...WHY SOMETIMES I GO HARD AND SOMETIMES HALF...I SAID IT'S JUST A MATURITY THING AND I WILL GROW OUT OF IT."
Haloti IS only 22...but feels it's HIS time to make the big leap. Time for his dream to come true.
"I DON'T LET IT GET TO MY HEAD BUT IT'S GOOD TO KNOW I COULD BE ONE OF THE BEST TO COME OUT OF UTAH."
And he hopes...good enough to hear his named called on draft day.
