Ta'amu goes in fourth round to Vikings
By Stacy Kaneshiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
Ed Ta'amu could not mask his disappointment after not being selected in the NFL Draft on Saturday. But when his named was called early yesterday in the fourth round by the Minnesota Vikings, he saw what it meant.
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"It was fate," the former Iolani School standout said yesterday in a telephone interview from Salt Lake City. "Ta'ase went in the fourth round, too."
Ed Ta'amu is a former Iolani and Utah athlete.
The University of Utah offensive lineman was referring to former University of Hawai'i defensive lineman Ta'ase Faumui, who was a fourth-round pick by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1994. The two belonged to the same church. Ta'amu remembered how happy the congregation was when one of its own got drafted.
The 6-foot-1 1/2, 330-pound Ta'amu was the 132nd overall pick of the draft, which ended after seven rounds yesterday. No other players with ties to Hawai'i were picked.
Mini camp opens Thursday for the Vikings.
"They have a good team," Ta'amu said of the Vikings. "I know they're more of a passing team and I have to work on my pass-blocking technique. It will be a great experience."
Ta'amu said the Vikings have already offered him his college jersey number (75) if he makes the squad.
Even though it snows in Utah, he knows he'll be in for some brutal winters in Minnesota, where he has never visited before. But he noted the Vikings play in the Metrodome.
