A teenager wanted by the some of the most legendary names in college football wasn’t carrying himself as a highly-recruited star on this hot July day. A mini-mountain of a defensive lineman standing at 6-foot-3 and 300 pounds, Siaki Ika walked through a hallway at East High on a mission: Not to get an extra workout in, or have a snack.
Such behavior is atypical for a recruit who has Alabama, Southern California, Washington, Ohio State and Utah all clamoring for his signature on a National Letter of Intent. But Siaki Ika is not your normal recruit. He has remained remarkably grounded throughout the recruiting process and when you pester him about all the attention and adulation, and the time demands of talking with coaches, his reply is cool and calculated.