As a middle linebacker, Uani' Unga is in charge of making the calls in the huddle and declaring the checks at the line of scrimmage. He's essentially driving the second-string defense, an important role on a team with a starter who hasn't made it through a 16-game season healthy since 2010 and a veteran backup with what could be a career-threatening neck injury.
And he's doing it with what amounts to an NFL learner's permit.
After missing all of last season recovering from an ACL tear suffered in the final game of his college career at BYU in 2013, Unga saw his first NFL action on Friday against the Bengals.