Washington Football DT Vita Vea makes havoc seem easy

Washington Football defensive tackle Vita Vea has a knack for creating havoc and mayhem at the line of scrimmage. And he makes it seem so easy

The Washington football team‘s defensive line is one of the best in the nation. They do not allow many yards through the running game, and they do not allow a passer much time to complete the pass. But defensive tackle Vita Vea is a little bit more. You see, he tends to blow up plays, redirect motion, and plunge to the ball handler in the offensive backfield. And he does it with a smile on his face.

He dominated in the season opener at Rutgers. And he hasn’t looked back since.

So what is it about Vita Vea that makes him so incredibly effective?

Strong as an ox

Well, he is as strong as an ox. And it’s that strength which allows him to absorb two blockers at a time and still make plays. And he has been making incredible plays for years for the Huskies.

That strength stands out week after week.  It’s so apparent, that he is already listed as one of the top 11 college football defensive linemen (he’s number five). And that is not the only skillset he possesses at the line of scrimmage.

Incredibly intelligent for a defensive lineman

It’s hard not to stereotype Vea as just a guy who likes to grind it out at the line of scrimmage. But he does so much more with his 6-foot-5 340 pound frame, that more must be said. That is just what ESPN’s Edward Aschoff does in his lastest piece.  In a recent  article, he describes Vea as one of the most well rounded defensive linemen in college today.

But in an interview prior to the Colorado game, Vea revealed so much more than just a guy who likes to mix it up:

"“Anyone can go out there and play balls to the wall and do well, but it comes to a point in time where that only takes you so far,” Vea said. “That was me last year, and this offseason I really grabbed a hold of actually learning the game … instead of going out there and just bull-rushing every single play.” – via ESPN interview"

Now, place that thought process into the physically dominating form of a huge defensive lineman, and you have the makings of somebody quite special.

Incredibly fast for a big man

Not widely known is the fact that Vita Vea is a former running back.  Now, standing 6-foot-5 and weighing 340 pounds disguises that fact well enough. ESPN’s Aschoff is doing his part to spread the word about Vea’s speed.

Aschoff relays a report of Vea hitting speeds “between 19 and 21 mph while chasing down a screen play against USC last season”.  That is incredibly quick for anyone, let alone a man standing 6-foot-5.

And he blocks punts too

This is the same down lineman who blocked a punt against Colorado.

The young defensive lineman is the total package. He delivers mayhem on virtually every play. And with the offense so busy trying to contain Vea’s pursuit, they often allow linebackers Azeem Victor and Keishawn Bierria to go untouched.

Next: Who do you stop on Washington Football’s offense?

The season is a third of the way over. And there is plenty of football to play. But if the next two thirds go the way of the first third to the season, defensive lineman Vita Vea will be in discussions for plenty of college awards.

And who knows? Perhaps the NFL Draft after that.