New Duck offensive lineman Junior Angilau brings a big personality and a rare quality of leadership

 

When Texas beat Utah 38-10 in the Alamo Bowl in 2019, redshirt freshman Junior Angilau led the Haka.

This was a really neat deal last night. Salt Lake City, Utah native, Junior Angilau with the post game HAKA after a huge win over Utah and capturing the Alamo Bowl championship!! pic.twitter.com/SXDopcVunE

— Anthony Geronimo (@ATXANT10) January 1, 2020

 6-6, 320, a former Army All-American and four-star recruit from East High School in Salt Lake, Junior started 34 games for the Longhorns in three seasons. Now he's an Oregon Duck. He entered the transfer portal in December after graduating with a degree in Strategic Communication.

Texas Director of Player Personnel Jake Langi said on Twitter, "He’s the Ultimate Warrior & I love him to death. Fast processor, physically/mentally tough, sets the tone, great grades, gym rat, respects all, fears no one, won’t be outworked, awesome with kids, super positive, and just a lovely human being."

Angilau missed all of last season, what was supposed to be his senior year. He tore his ACL in the first scrimmage of fall camp on Saturday, August 14th.

Two days later on Monday, Angilau was at practice in a leg brace, jersey and practice pants, teaching the freshmen.

Junior didn't start playing football until his freshman year of high school. He told Tim Whelan of the USA Today, “The only thing I played was soccer, for fun. Then when I started playing football, it became the love of my life, man.”  

A big man with a big personality, Junior brings that love to everything he does. His team won back-to-back state championships in his sophomore and junior years.

Here are the highest-graded seasons by a Texas offensive guard over the last ten years:

1. Junior Angilau ('20): 73.6 OFF/77.6 Pass Block/74.2 Run Block 

2. Sedrick Flowers ('15): 71/61/74.6  

3. Junior Angilau ('21): 70.7/62.6/75.1  

4. Parker Braun ('19): 68.6/70.4/72.4  

5. Junior Angilau ('19): 68/77.5/65.7

Still recovering from the knee injury, he was limited in spring practice. The Ducks have to replace four starters on the offensive line this season. If the knee allows him to go, Angilau will be a big asset, both as a lineman and a leader.

In the video below he wears number 75: