Tupou Weighing His Options

(This article originally appeared on www.beaverblitz.com.)

A standout from last week's Offense-Defense all star game in Florida is weighing offers from Nebraska and Oregon State, and may visit Corvallis in late January.

Christian Tupou, a 6-foot-4, 270 lb. defensive lineman from Sacramento (Calif.) Grant Union HS lists Oregon State as one of his two offers, and will decide whether or not to visit based on a mid-January visit to Cal.

"I'm down to my last free visit, so I need to really spend it well and make sure I'm checking out a good place," Tupou said Tuesday. He visited Nebraska in October.

According to Tupou, he had paid very little attention to Oregon State until the Beavers knocked off mighty Southern Cal, 33-31, in late October.

"I hadn't really heard of them," Tupou said. "But beating SC like that, the way they did, that was big."

Assistant head coach Jay Locey mans the Sacramento area for the Beavers and, as so many recruits often do, he is selling Oregon State as a team on the rise.

"Locey keeps telling me that they're really young," said Tupou, "He says they're coming off a great year, and want me to help them build on it."

The contest for Tupou's services appears down to Nebraska and Oregon State, who have extended offers, and Cal and Arizona State, who have yet to offer but from whom Topou expects an offer soon.

For the rest of this school year, the 270 pound DE, who just happens to be the smallest child in his family, is trying to increase his speed and stay lean. Tupou insists he doesn't have any specific weight loss goals, but is working at maintaining his foot speed and keeping as much muscle in the 270 pounds as possible.

While his college suitors agree that Tupou will get a look first at DT, its playing DE that he thinks gives him the best opportunity to make an impact on the field. During his junior year, while playing at DE, Tupou logged 85 tackles and a whopping 16 sacks. A move to NG this year increased his tackles (105) but limited his ability to rush the passer (6 sacks).

Tupou also boasts a 3.8 GPA and a passion for performing community service.