Xavier Su'a-Filo

Xavier Filoitumua Su'a-Filo (born January 1, 1991) is an American football guard for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the second round of the 2014 NFL Draft. He played college football at UCLA.

Xavier Su'a-Filo
Su'a-Filo with the Tennessee Titans in 2018
No. 76 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1991-01-01) January 1, 1991
American Fork, Utah
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:312 lb (142 kg)
Career information
High school:Timpview (Provo, Utah)
College:UCLA
NFL Draft:2014 / Round: 2 / Pick: 33
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2019
Games played:75
Games started:53
Player stats at NFL.com
Player stats at PFR

Early years

A native of Pleasant Grove, Utah, Su'a-Filo attended Timpview High School in Provo, Utah, where he was a three-year starter and a Parade Magazine All-American offensive lineman.

He contributed to his school winning state championships in 2006, 2007 and 2008, while setting a state record for most consecutive wins (36). He was teammates with future NFL players Stephen Paea and Bronson Kaufusi.[1]

As a senior, he was named the state of Utah 4A Offensive Player of the Year. He was regarded as a four-star recruit and was ranked as the number seven offensive tackle in his class by Rivals.com.[2]

College career
Su'a-Filo at the 2014 NFL scouting combine.

Su'a-Filo accepted a football scholarship from UCLA. As a freshman, he started all 13 games at left tackle. He became the first true freshman to start a season-opener on the offensive side of the ball for UCLA and also had the most starts by a true freshman at any non-kicking position in school history.

In 2010, he left school to serve a two-year Mormon mission in Florida and South Alabama.[3][4] He rode a special ordered bike capable for his 300-pound frame during his mission work from January 2010 to December 2011.[5]

In 2012, he returned and started all 14 games at left guard, while also seeing some action at left tackle. He helped running back Johnathan Franklin set a school record for most single-season rushing yards. As a junior, he started 7 games at left guard and 6 at left left tackle.

On January 5, 2014, he decided to forgo his senior year at UCLA and declared for the 2014 NFL Draft.[6] During his college career he started 19 games at left tackle and 21 at left guard.

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand size 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)		 307 lb
(139 kg)		 33 3⁄8 in
(0.85 m)		 9 3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		 5.04 s 4.44 s 7.60 s 25 in
(0.64 m)		 8 ft 6 in
(2.59 m)		 25 reps
All values from NFL Combine[7]

Houston Texans
Su’a-Filo with the Texans in 2016

Su'a-Filo was selected by the Houston Texans with the first pick in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft, to become the highest selected UCLA Bruins offensive lineman since Jonathan Ogden in 1996. As a rookie, he missed all of the organized team activities because of his school's quarter system and played different positions along the offensive line during the preseason. He appeared in 13 games as a backup at left guard after not been able to pass Ben Jones on the depth chart. He started at right guard in place of an injured Brandon Brooks in the sixth game against the Indianapolis Colts.

In 2015, with the retirement of Chris Myers, Jones was moved to center and Su'a-Filo competed for the left guard position.[8] He played in 11 games, starting the final 9 including the playoffs at left guard. He struggled in pass protection during the season.

In 2016, he appeared in 16 games with 15 starts. In 2017, the Texans used seven different offensive line starting combinations throughout the season. Only Su'a-Filo and right tackle Breno Giacomini started every game at their respective positions.[9] He wasn't re-signed after the season.

Tennessee Titans

On March 27, 2018, Su'a-Filo signed with the Tennessee Titans, reuniting with Mike Vrabel who was both the linebackers coach and defensive coordinator with the Texans. He was brought in to compete with starter Quinton Spain at left guard.[10] He was released on September 1, 2018.[11]

Dallas Cowboys

On September 11, 2018, Su'a-Filo was signed by the Dallas Cowboys to replace backup guard Kadeem Edwards and provide depth in place of an injured Parker Ehinger.[12] He replaced injured rookie Connor Williams, as the starter at left guard in the ninth game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He has been credited with helping to stabilize the performance of the offensive line.[13]

In 2019, he was a backup until Williams tore his right knee ACL in the Week 13 game against the Buffalo Bills. He started four games at left guard before suffering a high ankle sprain and a fractured fibula in the Week 16 game against the Philadelphia Eagles. He was placed on injured reserve on December 24.

Cincinnati Bengals

On March 19, 2020, Su'a-Filo signed a three-year, $10 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.[14][15]

Personal life

Su'a-Filo is fluent in Spanish, learning the language on his two-year church mission trips to Alabama and Florida. Su'a-Filo has three siblings: Hayley, Natasha, and Wilson. He majored in history with a minor in Spanish at UCLA.

References
  1. "UCLA's Xavier Su'a-Filo won't feel like a visitor when he plays in Salt Lake City Thursday". Deseret news. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  2. "Xavier Su'a Filo Profile". rivals.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  3. "Xavier Su'a-Filo returns from LDS Mission to find new UCLA football landscape". Deseret news. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  4. "Xavier Su'a-Filo keys UCLA's protection plan". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  5. "5 Fun Facts About Newest Dallas Cowboy: Xavier Su'a-Filo". am570radio.com.
  6. "UCLA's Xavier Su'a-Filo drafted by Houston Texans". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  7. "NFL Combine profile". NFL.com. Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  8. "It's "night and day" for Xavier Su'a-Filo in 2015". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  9. "One critical component to O-line success". Retrieved February 19, 2018.
  10. Wyatt, Jim (March 27, 2018). "Titans Reach Deal with Former Texans OL Xavier Su'a-Filo". TitansOnline.com.
  11. Wyatt, Jim (September 1, 2018). "Roster Moves: Titans Trim Roster From 90 to 53 Players". TitansOnline.com.
  12. Phillips, Rob (September 11, 2018). "Cowboys Sign Veteran Guard Xavier Su'a-Filo". DallasCowboys.com.
  13. "Why Xavier Su'a-Filo should remain the starter at LG over rookie Connor Williams". November 18, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2018.
  14. "Bengals Announce Agreements With Eight Unrestricted Free Agents". Bengals.com. April 8, 2020.
  15. Gantt, Darin (March 18, 2020). "Bengals add Xavier Su'a-Filo to offensive line mix". Pro Football Talk. NBC Sports.
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