Colorado University Athletics
Vitale Added To Football Recruiting Class
BOULDER ? The University of Colorado’s “Polynesian pipeline” in football recruiting has been tapped again, as Ino Vitale Jr. has signed a letter-of-intent to join the program this fall, head coach Dan Hawkins announced Wednesday.
Vitale, a 6-5, 245-pound tight end from Nu’uuli-Poly Tech in American Samoa, made his recruiting visit to the Colorado campus this week. The Buffs first became aware of Vitale through two former players with native ties to Samoa: Vitale’s offensive coordinator was Okland Salavea, who played defensive tackle for the Buffs between 1987-89. He phoned current CU defensive technical assistant, Donnell Leomiti, a former CU safety (1992-95) to tell him about Vitale and his interest in playing in the states and at Colorado. Salavea is of Samoan descent, while Leomiti is a native of the island and prepped at Leone High School, a rival of Poly Tech’s.
Vitale was a four-year starter at tight end, and also started on defense two seasons as a defensive end. Primarily utilized for his blocking ability, he caught 30 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns as a senior, when he also played some fullback and even started the season finale at quarterback due to injuries.
“He’s a big, athletic guy who can do a lot of things, and we’re excited to get him,” Hawkins said.
Vitale is the 22nd member of Hawkins’ first Colorado recruiting class, which is comprised of 20 high school seniors and two junior college transfers. Two other tight ends signed in the class.
VITALE BIOGRAPHY
HIGH SCHOOL?A member of the All-Samoa All-Star team as a senior, participating in the prestigious Samoa Bowl, which annually pits native Samoans from Hawai’i and American Samoa against each other (American Samoa won, 14-6). A four-year starter at tight end, where he primarily was utilized as a blocker, he caught 30 passes for 600 yards and five touchdowns as a senior. He also saw some spot action at fullback, rushing 23 times for 100 yards and another score. Displaying his versatility despite his 6-5, 245-pound frame, he played quarterback in the final game of the season, as the two regulars were both injured (he completed three passes for 25 yards). Defensively, he started his junior and senior years at defensive end, with 40 tackles, 15 for losses including three sacks and a forced fumble as a senior. Top games as a senior: against Samoana, he caught six passes for 90 yards and a touchdown, and against Leone, he had six tackles, two for losses, including a sack while catching three balls on offense. His high school coach was Crim Sele, and Poly Tech’s offensive coordinator was former Buff Okland Salavea, who played defensive tackle for CU between 1987-89. He will also letter four times in basketball (center), and three years in soccer (fullback/sweeper).
ACADEMICS?He is interested in the engineering field as possible majors at Colorado.
PERSONAL?Born January 18, 1987 in Tutuila, American Samoa (he is from the Village of Tafuna). Hobbies include playing basketball, and he also knows how to play the guitar. He spent several summers in Los Angeles with relatives, but saw snow for the first time on his recruiting trip (he made his first snowball, wearing the traditional Samoan lava lava, while on his recruiting visit at Eldora Ski Resort west of Boulder). (Name is pronounced E-no Vih-tahl-ay.)