Merced College’s Tongamoa ready for some football

The wait for Kamilo Tongamoa has been excruciating at times.

Knowing he wasn’t in a place academically to get out of Merced College in two years, the 6-foot-5, 305-pound Division I prospect made the tough call to redshirt in 2015 and get his schooling in order. It proved a smart decision, as Tongamoa put in the work in the classroom and recently gave a verbal commitment to Iowa State.

Still, it’s kept him from playing any meaningful football games since November 2014. He plans to make up for the lost time beginning Thursday night, as the Blue Devils host Modesto Junior College in a scrimmage at 6 p.m. at Stadium ’76.

“I know it’s just a scrimmage, but I’m excited to be back out there with my brothers,” Tongamoa said. “I’m totally excited for the new season and a new team. It was really tough watching my team out on the field, but I had to do what I had to do. Now I’m ready for this year to ball out.”

Tongamoa showed his leadership during the year off.

The defensive tackle was a force as a freshman, recording 46 tackles and 7 1/2 sacks. His fire didn’t diminish last year, as he roamed the MC practices and sidelines offering encouragement and an extra set of eyes for his defensive cohorts.

“He was chomping all summer to get back out on the field,” Blue Devils coach Bob Casey said. “He worked hard in the classroom last year and this summer to get himself in position where he could get out here and continue doing the things he’s set out to do in college football. He’s worked really (hard) physically, and it’s just nice having him back out here because he’s one of the best overall players we’re going to see all year.”

Tongamoa stands out in a crowd. Almost a full head taller than most of his teammates, the sophomore said he’s trimmed back down to his playing weight of 305 pounds for the season. His combination of speed, power and length make him a handful for any interior offensive lineman and naturally makes him a centerpiece for what defensive coordinator Justin Pinasco hopes is going to be a sound defensive unit.

“I’m feeling a lot better than last year,” Tongamoa said. “Last year, I got up to 340 and now I’m down to 305, so I’m in shape this year.”

Fans will get their first look at Tongamoa and the Blue Devils when they host MJC. Casey said the programs intend to go with four 15-play drives, rotating the offenses and defenses with special teams mixed in.

“Mainly, we’re just looking to improve from our Blue/Gold game on Saturday and to stay healthy,” Casey said of the scrimmage. “Matching up against a team that’s in the tier above us is a good opportunity. I think we’ll match up well in some areas, but there’s things we definitely have to work on after Saturday and they’ll help us do that.

“I think the main thing is guys will just be excited to see someone else in uniform.”

This story was originally published August 24, 2016 at 5:09 PM with the headline "Merced College’s Tongamoa ready for some football."