Colorado University Athletics
Pookie Maka bio
POOKIE MAKA
OLB GÇó 6-3 GÇó 210 GÇó Salt Lake City, Utah GÇó Cottonwood
HIGH SCHOOLGÇöAs a senior, he earned first-team All-Region honors at outside linebacker when he was in on 50 tackles (35 solo, including eight quarterback sacks). He also forced four fumbles, recorded seven passes broken up and blocked two field goals. He saw action on offense at both running back and tight end, but primarily in a blocking capacity (he did gain 29 yards on seven attempts). As a junior defensive end at Woods Cross High School (Woods Cross, Utah), he earned first-team All-Region honors when he racked up 64 tackles, which included 19 tackles for loss, 13 quarterback sacks among those. He also had nice pass breakups and four fumble recoveries. Top games: in a 22-14 win over Clearfield as a senior, he had 12 tackles, 10 of which were solo that included eight behind the line of scrimmage, with three of those quarterback sacks; that same season in a 28-17 win over Cooper Hills, he had eight tackles, six solo with two for losses (one sack). In a state semifinal loss his junior year to Timpview, he had a monster game: he had 11 tackles, six for losses including two sacks and two fumble recoveries. Under coach Mike Tidwell, Cottonwood was 2-8 his senior season; under coach Justin Spencer, Woods Cross was 11-2 his junior year, claiming the 4A Region 6 title and reaching the state semifinals. He played two years of Rugby at Woods Cross, and he will participate in track for the first time this spring (sprints and relays).
ACADEMICSGÇöHe is interested in Criminology/Sociology as his major at Colorado. Owns a 3.5 grade point average in high school.
PERSONALGÇöHe was born February 23, 1998 in Oakland, Calif. His hobbies include playing the guitar (started in 10th grade) and the piano (just recently). When he was 10, he was playing GÇ£lifeguardGÇ¥ at a family party and he actually pulled two five-year olds from the pool who were about to drown and saved them. GÇ£PookieGÇ¥ is his nickname; his given first name is Tangilanu. (Last name is pronounced ma-ka)
