The No. 1 Oregon Ducks are stationed atop every ranking system in the country, with fans and media alike ogling over the most explosive offense in the land. Darron Thomas has surpassed expectations in his first year as starting quarterback, and LaMichael James is emerging as one of the favorites for the Heisman Trophy.
Certain aspects of the Oregon offense do stay under the radar, however, and such is the case with junior Lavasier Tuinei.
Hailing from Arcadia, Ind., Tuinei has revamped the slot receiver position in the Oregon offense this season with hard-nosed play on the field and a durable training mentality off it. Oregon wide receivers coach Scott Frost, a former defensive back in the National Football League, said that for Tuinei, the battle is won between his ears.
“You know, he’s got things bothering him just like everybody else,” Frost said. “But LT is one of the toughest kids on our team. He will fight through any of that stuff. That toughness helps him to be a competitor as a pass receiver and a real force as a blocker.”
Standing 6-feet-5 inches tall and generously listed at 206 pounds on the Oregon roster, Tuinei has separated himself as one of the team’s most consistent playmakers this season. The junior is the second-leading receiver for the Ducks with 33 catches for 321 yards and two scores, both of which came at crucial points in Oregon wins over Tennessee and USC.
Tuinei’s dramatic turnaround in 2010 has not surprised coaches or his teammates, and Tuinei himself knew his day would eventually come. That trademark resolve coaches instantly refer to nowadays has been long in the making for Tuinei.
“I’ve always had that toughness,” he said. “Toughness runs in my family, man. It’s all about that football blood. You pretty much have to have that mentality when you play football.”
Tuinei’s father, Van, played four years as a defensive end in the NFL. An All-American tight end out of high school, Van Tuinei originally went undrafted out of the University of Arizona before getting picked up by the San Diego Chargers in 1997. Van played with the Indianapolis Colts during the ’98 season before concluding his career with a two-year stint with the Chicago Bears.
Having a young aspiring football player at home, Van used his time in the NFL to further his knowledge of the game, hoping to one day give his son a step up.
“When he went to the league, he didn’t really just focus on just his position, he really paid attention to everyone’s positions so he knows what everyone does,” Tuinei said. “He helped me a lot ‘cause he watched receivers do routes, and he helped me do routes in high school to help me get better.”
During his prep career, Tuinei played three seasons at Hamilton Heights High School on both the football and basketball teams before transferring to Noblesville High School after his junior season. A discrepancy with his Hamilton Heights transcript prevented Tuinei from playing before the 2007 state playoffs his senior year, leaving Tuinei to enroll at Golden West College in Huntington Beach, Calif.
Tuinei spent one season at Golden West, reeling in 41 catches for 680 yards and three touchdowns. That same transcript eventually caused some academic problems for Tuinei when he came to Eugene in May 2009, but the issue was resolved in time for him to participate in spring drills.
Now nine games into the best year of his young football career, Tuinei is a player who prides himself on versatility.
“He’s a guy that will go across the middle to run a route, he’ll go across the middle to block a backer, he’ll do whatever it takes,” Oregon offensive coordinator Mark Helfrich said.
Tuinei has worked extensively with strength and conditioning coach Jim Radcliffe over the past two years and has seen results on the field and in the weight room. Despite his slender build, Tuinei bench presses 285 pounds and squats 360.
“Size isn’t really king in football,” Tuinei said. “I’ll tell you that right now.”
Frost said the lanky slot receiver has worn several “hats” this season as an irreplaceable piece that makes the Oregon offense tick. Tuinei understands both outside receiver positions held down by seniors Jeff Maehl and D.J. Davis, as well as his mainstay in the slot. As the slot receiver, Tuinei has several integral tasks to perform: motioning through the backfield, run blocking downfield and running routes.
The ability to execute all three phases adequately is what has separated him.
“LT’s a guy that has such a big upside still,” Helfrich said. “He’s done some really good things in terms of catching the ball. His range is great, he’s running better routes; we wish we had him for a few more years.”
At only 20 years old and a junior in college, Tuinei is still young in several aspects, but wise enough to soak up as much knowledge as he can get his hands on.
“He’s got to be one of our leaders,” Frost said. “I expect him to continue to play all three positions and really be the bell cow for us in the receiver group next year.”
Tuinei said he’s taken the most from Maehl this season, both on and off the field.
“He’s trying to get me ready for next year when he leaves,” Tuinei said. “He’s a great player, too, off the field. He (has) tried to keep my mind right with school and everything; he’s a good guy.”
While Maehl continues to climb the all-time Oregon receiving list, Tuinei quietly awaits his opportunity, ready to seize the moment.
“I think people just get the wrong mentality when they look at us,” Tuinei said. “You know, you can’t judge a book by its cover.”
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