For someone who first played organized football in the sixth grade, Maea Teuhema has done pretty well for himself.
In just six years, Teuhema has evolved into one of the nation’s premier offensive linemen. The ESPN 300 prospect and LSU commit added to his football resume Thursday morning when he was presented with his Under Armour All-America Game jersey in a ceremony sponsored by American Family Insurance.
“It feels good. I’m excited,” said Teuhema, the nation’s No. 5 offensive guard and No. 61 player overall in the 2015 ESPN 300. “It feels good knowing I can compete with other top athletes and just have some fun out there.”
#UAAllAmerica OL @MaeaTeuhema with a quick message to the #GeauxTigers. https://t.co/0QcFoqpl60
— Damon Sayles (@DamonSayles) November 6, 2014A slimmer, trimmer Teuhema -- he’s now 6-foot-5 and 330 pounds after being at 346 pounds in the spring -- is preparing for a Texas high school playoff run with his Keller High School teammates. While January’s all-star game is something he’s looking forward to, he knows there’s still some unfinished business before he thinks about anything else, LSU included.
Teuhema has always been someone who refuses to put the proverbial cart before the horse. Even in his earlier high school days, when he was always told his size would take him far, Teuhema made sure he put in extra work alongside his brother, Sione, who’s now a freshman at LSU.
“Growing up, everyone told me I would play [football] because I was big,” Teuhema said, “but I knew if I put some work into it, I could really do something with it. My freshman year, Arkansas offered me a scholarship. That’s when realized if I focused, I could do this as a job.”
Teuhema has double-digit offers and chose LSU over Texas, Baylor, Oklahoma, TCU and others. He and his brother were committed to Texas at one point last year, but he decommitted from the Longhorns in February.
Maea Teuhema receives his #UAALLAMERICA jersey. #GeauxTigers https://t.co/odmD0Elh56
— Damon Sayles (@DamonSayles) November 6, 2014Quick hits on Maea Teuhema
Weight room stats: Teuhema bench presses 405 pounds and squats 555.
All-time best UA Game player: “[Jadeveon] Clowney. He’s really quick and aggressive, and he plays with a chip on his shoulder. I like how he plays.”
Favorite football memory: “It was my freshman year when we played Southlake [Carroll]. I was really nervous going in. One play, I went to a linebacker and hit him pretty hard. He tried getting back up, and I hit him hard again. I wouldn’t let him get up.”
In any sport, which celebrity would you challenge? “Michael Jordan in basketball. I want to see how I’d do against him.”
Three words to define you: “Aggressive, fast and strong.”
Maea on big brother Sione: “He’s just a guy I’ve always looked up to. I try to copy him. He’s a good role model.”
Did you know ... “I like to sing and play guitar. I like reggae music. I like Bob Marley.”
