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PROVO — At 6-foot-7 and 410 pounds, BYU defensive lineman Motekiai Langi seems like a natural football player. But he never played a down before Saturday's season-opener against Portland State.
But here he was last Saturday, not only filling in on the special teams' field goal and field goal-block unit, but loving every minute of it — especially carrying the Cougars' American flag to open the 2017 season.
"It was amazing," Langi said. "There was a lot of adrenaline coming out. We were in the tunnel, and Jack (Damuni) handed me a flag. I said, OK, I'll run it out."
Langi's first taste of American football also impressed his coaches.
"He did well. I think it was good to get him in there in a game situation," BYU defensive coordinator Ilaisa Tuiaki said. "He's going to take some time; he's got a long way to go. But I think he did well in the part of the game that we gave him."
Unlike other foreign athletes with no football experience, Langi — who went to school in Nuku'alofa, Tonga — didn't come into the BYU locker room unable to put on his pads. He even started to learn some of the lingo — thanks to the internet.
"I had to Google most of the stuff before I came in. But the boys helped me out," Langi said.
"I YouTube'd (how to put on my equipment) before I came in. We've got that covered."
Langi's first helmet didn't fit his head, so the Cougars sent it back and custom-molded a facemask that would fit. His size 18 EEEE cleats are also a rarity in college sports.
But what isn't rare is his love for his teammates, just like any other football player.
"It's been great," Langi said. "They've helped me out since the first day I got here, helping me get into my stance like Kesni (Tausinga), Handsome (Tanielu), Solo (Wolfgramm).
"They've been great, and I'm grateful for them for their help."
Langi has noticed all the attention. Video of him has sprouted on national college sports websites like Yahoo, and he's already inspired a parody Twitter account. Sometimes it's fun; sometimes, it's a little weird, he insists.
"It's a little bit too much," Langi said. "But I guess it's just the fan base over here.
"I'm just grateful I'm here."
Langi's impact on the BYU football team is yet to be determined; he's only a freshman, so there's plenty of time to work into the game.
But the former rugby player also has plans beyond the gridiron.
"I just wanted to learn the game, to be able to help out wherever I can," Langi said. "I came not only for football, but to get an education — to be able to help out the people wherever I can."
Guice update
LSU star running back Derrius Guice was back in practice this week after having surgery on his wisdom teeth prior to the season-opener against BYU. His mouth is still "a little swollen" from the procedure, he told LSU media Tuesday — but he doesn't anticipate that keeping him off the field for the relocated game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans.
"I'm always 100 percent," Guice told NOLA.com. "My teeth ain't holding me back, dog. I don't care if they pull all of them out. I'll be ready this week."
Toothache or not, the preseason All-American will be tough to stop for BYU's defensive unit.
"I think the biggest thing is just to slow him down a little bit before he gets to the second level," BYU's Tuiaki said. "It's really tough to tackle him once he gets into the second level."
