Fou Fonoti
Born: (1991-11-15) November 15, 1991 (age 32)
Lakewood, California, U.S.
Career information
CFL statusAmerican
Position(s)OL
Height6 ft 4 in (193 cm)
Weight310 lb (140 kg)
CollegeMichigan State
High schoolMayfair (Lakewood, California)
Career history
As player
2014San Francisco 49ers*
2015–2016Toronto Argonauts
*Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career stats

Fouimalo "Fou" Fonoti (born November 15, 1991) is a former American football offensive lineman. Fonoti first enrolled at Cerritos College before transferring to Michigan State University. He has also been a member of the San Francisco 49ers and Toronto Argonauts.

Early years

Fonoti played high school football at Mayfair High School in Lakewood, California. He was invited to play in two postseason all-star games after his senior season and was named to the Long Beach Press-Telegram Dream Team. He was also a second-team all-state selection and garnered Suburban League Offensive Lineman of the Year accolades his senior season in 2008. Fonoti earned All-CIF and first-team all-league honors while being recognized on the Alga Foundation All-Star Team his junior year. He was also voted into the Lakewood Youth Hall of Fame.[1]

College career

Fonoti first played college football at Cerritos College. He played in eleven games, starting ten, his freshman year in 2009 and earned second-team all-conference honors. He garnered All-California Region IV and First-team All-National Division Northern Conference recognition in 2010. Fonoti helped the Cerritos Falcons to an 18–5 record during his two years with the team.[1] He earned JCFootball.com/JC Grid-Wire and Super Prep JUCO All-American honors. He was also named a California Community College Football Coaches Association All-American. Fonoti was rated as the fourth best JUCO offensive lineman and the 32nd best overall JUCO player by SuperPrep.[1][2]

Fonoti then transferred to play for the Michigan State Spartans under Mark Dantonio, where he was a three-year letterman. He started the last eleven games of the 2011 season at right tackle. He totaled 31 knockdowns and played 659 snaps without allowing a sack. Fonoti played 136 snaps in the first two games of 2012 and was credited with seven knockdowns before breaking his foot in practice prior to the Notre Dame game in Week 3, causing him to miss the rest of the season.[1] He was then medically redshirted.[3] He received the MSU Football Player Association's Community Service & Outreach Award in 2012. Fonoti played in all fourteen games, starting the last eleven games of the season, for the Spartans his senior year in 2013 and earned honorable mention All-Big Ten honors after recording 45 knockdowns. Fonoti was also nominated for the Allstate Good Works Team for his community service work in 2013. He played in 30 games, starting 24 at right tackle, during his time at Michigan State.[1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4 in
(1.93 m) 		308 lb
(140 kg) 		5.12 s 1.78 s 2.93 s 4.69 s 7.66 s 28+1⁄2 in
(0.72 m)		 8 ft 10 in
(2.69 m)		 24 reps
All values from Michigan State Pro Day[4]

Fonoti signed with the San Francisco 49ers on May 10, 2014 after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft.[5] He was waived/injured by the team on July 29 after suffering a season-ending leg injury during practice on July 27, 2014.[6][7][8] He was placed on injured reserve on July 30, 2014.[8][9] Fonoti was released by the 49ers on April 30, 2015.[10][11]

Fonoti was signed to the Toronto Argonauts' practice roster in September 2015.[12][13][14] He was promoted to the active roster on October 21, 2015.[13][14] He played in one game for the team during the 2015 season.[15] Fonoti was released by the Argonauts on June 19, 2016.[16]

Personal life

Fonoti is the cousin of football players Tupe Peko and Domata Peko.[17] Fou's cousin Christian Matau plays football for the East Carolina Pirates.[18]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "FOU FONOTI". msuspartans.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. ^ "Former Falcon All-American ready for his senior season". cerritosfalcons.com. August 14, 2013. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  3. ^ Kornacki, Steve (August 9, 2013). "State gets an enthusiastic leader back in Fonoti". foxsports.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  4. ^ "Fou Fonoti". nfldraftscout.com. Archived from the original on October 7, 2016. Retrieved October 7, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  5. ^ Vannini, Chris (May 10, 2014). "Fou Fonoti signs with San Francisco 49ers". 247sports.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ Fucillo, David (July 29, 2014). "49ers officially sign Alfonso Smith, waive/injured Fou Fonoti". ninersnation.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  7. ^ Fucillo, David (July 27, 2014). "49ers training camp practice recap, Day 4: Injuries, cornerbacks, and pass rush". ninersnation.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  8. ^ a b Griffith, Mike (August 3, 2014). "Former Michigan State lineman Fou Fonoti discusses NFL transition, being placed on injured reserve". mlive.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  9. ^ "Fou Fonoti". kffl.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  10. ^ "FOU FONOTI". foxsports.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  11. ^ Sakamoto, Ryan (April 30, 2015). "49ers' Sign ILB Philip Wheeler, Announce Three More Moves". ninerfans.com. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  12. ^ Wilson, Mike (September 21, 2015). "Former Spartan OL Fonoti headed to Toronto". michiganstate.247sports.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  13. ^ a b "TRANSACTIONS – 2015". argonauts.ca. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  14. ^ a b "TRANSACTIONS – 2015". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  15. ^ "FOU FONOTI". cfl.ca. Archived from the original on June 18, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  16. ^ "ARGONAUTS TRANSACTIONS". argonauts.ca. Archived from the original on June 21, 2016. Retrieved June 21, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  17. ^ Johnson, Greg (August 13, 2011). "Junior college transfer Fou Fonoti tries to fit in along Michigan State's offensive line". mlive.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  18. ^ "Christian Matau". ecupirates.com. Archived from the original on June 17, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2016.((cite web)): CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)

External links

Categories