’27 Two-way lineman showed out at the Wingate ‘Big Man’ Camp
Games are won upfront. You will hear “football types” iterate that sentiment, over and over. Why? One reason is it is on the money, dead-on facts. Fort Campbell and Trigg County played a win or start playing basketball elimination game last weekend. We picked Trigg County to win that game. We couldn’t have been more in error. Fort Campbell won the game, 47-32, and moves on to Owensboro to play Catholic High next weekend in the KHSAA, 2A football playoffs, first round. One reason for the victory was the outstanding play of Sam Suapilimai. Suapilimai plays both OT and DE for Coach Henry Mitchell’s Falcons. What will the Falcons do against the Aces in round one? We shall see…
HB Lyon, Scouting Director, KPGFootball
This week’s article is brought to you by Lasaters Coffee & Tea. This feature is brought to you each and every Tuesday morning. Around the KHSAA, Tuesday morning is the perfect time to wake up and smell the coffee or tea brewing.
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Oak Grove, KY: We are leaving an important offseason to enter a critical year for many teams around the KHSAA. Offseason is where we get the kids ready to contribute and (oftentimes) thrive on their team’s behalf and in their team’s interest.
No one has beasted out any more substantially than Fort Campbell’s Sam Suapilimai this off-season. Just ask the coaching staff at Wingate University. Wingate hosted a Lineman Camp a few weeks ago and Suapilimai posted some impressive numbers and put on quite the show.
Now numbers from a college camp can be hard to discover. The purpose of the camp is to identify prospective players for the Bulldogs, not everyone competing with the Bulldogs in the South Atlantic Conference (NCAA Division II).
While Wingate was unwilling to tell us exactly how well Suapilimai did, they were happy to tell us this…Suapilimai performed mighty well. They were mighty impressed with Suapilimai’s footwork, burst, speed, quickness, leg kick, explosion, hand placement, strength, leg drive, power, and leverage. For a guy working at OL/DE, that about covers it.
Suapilimai is a 6′ 0,” 253-pounder who bench presses 315-pounds and back squats 500. Julius Jessup (’27 OL/DL) and Suapilimai form a formidable, one-two punch up front for the Falcons. Jessup is a 6’0,” 260-pounder who benches and squats the same numbers as his front line counterpart (315/500).
Julius Jessup (’27 OL/DL) and Suapilimai form a formidable, one-two punch up front
Friday Night Fletch
We believe Jessup has next level capability, just like Suapilimai. We are not alone.
Wingate forecasts Suapilimai as an end defensively and maybe a guy who could bulk up and move inside for them. Fort Campbell will be playing Suapilimai both ways in 2026. After all, at the 2A level particularly, teams have to play their players.
Suapilimai had a productive junior season. We had Suapilimai registering some 26-tackles and grading out at 88% along the offensive front in the team’s regular season. That 88% is a huge number for a high school OL. That is an all-state level of performance, in case any of you were curious.
Suapilimai is among the more popular members of the Fort Campbell football program. We have even seen a T-shirt for sale emblazoned with his picture. We were thinking about ordering one. We wear a 2XL in case he would like to send it along to us.
We talked to head football coach, Henry Mitchell, about his young big. He told KPGFootball, “Suapilimai is both massive and massively strong player who uses his strength and leverage well. Suapilimai has excellent feet.”
Suapilimai plays at an appropriate level, moves very well, and possesses a devastating ‘punch’…
Henry Mitchell
Mitchell also told us, “Suapilimai plays at an appropriate level, moves very well, and possesses a devastating ‘punch’ which wilts the upfield rush while knocking the pass rushers well off track. We believe Suapilimai is a next level guy.”
Fort Campbell has done an excellent job positioning itself for competitive play both in its district and classification. The Falcons have the pieces sufficient to sneak up on higher rated opponents and send them home upset if they are overlooked or lightly regarded.
There are certain undeniable “truths” in the game of football. Among those are when you have big time talent upfront, like Suapilimai, you will always have a chance on Friday night.
This is even more true when the roster contains some of the athletes and pieces at the disposal of Coach Mitchell and his staff. Identifying a potential weapon like Sam Suapilimai should certainly help get ready for the challenges which lie ahead.
That is why Sam Suapilimai is our Lasaters Coffee & Tea, Wake Up and Smell the Coffee Feature of the Week.
This is Friday Night Fletch, reporting for KPGFootball, reminding you to PLAY THROUGH THE WHISTLE!
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