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Sports
Mar. 25, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

UNLV SPRING FOOTBALL: Mafi to be all over field

Rebels juco signee learns complicated defensive position

By MARK ANDERSON
REVIEW-JOURNAL
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UNLV junior Heivaha Mafi takes a water break during spring practice at Rebel Park on Monday. The junior college transfer is competing to be a starter as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker.
Photos by John Gurzinski



Heivaha Mafi runs an agility drill at UNLV spring practice.

The long, black locks fall out of the player's helmet and bounce on the shoulders and back of his red No. 42 jersey.

So, Jay Staggs is back at UNLV?

No, the Rebels didn't find a way to get more eligibility for Staggs, the highly energetic safety whose UNLV career ended in 2006.

The player is Heivaha Mafi, a junior college transfer the Rebels hope will make the same sort of impact as Staggs, who has signed with the Montreal Alouettes of the Canadian Football League.

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    • "(Mafi's) got a lot of hair," coach Mike Sanford said, "and he plays with it on fire."

    Mafi (6 feet 1 inch, 255 pounds) is competing for a starting job at a new position -- a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker -- against sophomore Daniel Mareko.

    It's a complicated spot that variously includes dropping into a three-point stance on the line, standing alongside the linebackers, lining up as a pass rusher, blitzing and dropping into coverage.

    "We haven't gotten to the part where (Mafi) has done very much playing as a linebacker, but he's got a lot of ability," defensive coordinator Dennis Therrell said. "It's not the easiest position in the world to play, but for us, it's a very important position."

    The position is so complex, Therrell said, that Mafi would have been forced to play linebacker if he had joined the team in August rather than in time for spring practices.

    "He has more to learn than anybody on the field," Therrell said. "I'm sure there are days he's felt like we stuck a water hose in his ears and tried to shoot football info in there. It's just overwhelming. It's a lot to learn, but the thing is he gets to make a lot of plays for us."

    Mafi figured he would make those plays for Kansas State, where he first committed. Instead of signing a letter of intent in December, however, Mafi was told no scholarship would be offered.

    "They were the No. 1 school on me," Mafi said. "They tried to get me. I went out there and visited. I liked it. I don't know what happened."

    UNLV, with its focus on signing high school players, seemed an unlikely destination. But Mafi played at Laney College in Oakland, Calif., and Sanford and cornerbacks coach Mike Bradeson knew Laney offensive coordinator John Beam.

    Beam, who recommended Mafi, had been instrumental in helping UNLV sign tailback Frank Summers from Laney in last year's class. Summers, who rushed for 928 yards last season, also told Rebels coaches Mafi was worth pursuing.

    "People like (Mafi) who fly around with intensity and love to play the game and are used to a winning tradition, we could use that here at UNLV," Summers said. "That's all I want. I just want guys to surround me who are used to winning, who want to win and who will put it all on the table to win.

    "I thought (Mafi) would be a great addition to the team. I told the coaches I thought he would be a great player."

    So Mafi became the only junior college player announced on signing day. The Rebels later added defensive back Terrance Lee of Arizona Western in Yuma.

    Mafi helped lead Laney to a 10-1 record last season, and Sanford made a point of showing his highlight tape at the signing day news conference. Shown in a darkened room, Mafi was a blur of uniform, helmet and hair charging unblocked toward helpless quarterbacks and running backs.

    Such free passes aren't as likely in Division I, but the Rebels hope to produce a similar highlight tape on Mafi this season. It might even remind UNLV fans of the plays Staggs used to make.

    • NOTE -- Running backs coach Reggie Davis left to become an assistant at Oregon State.

    Contact reporter Mark Anderson at manderson@reviewjournal.com or (702) 387-2914.

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    Naati Mafi A.K.A. V-Monstah lil sis wrote on April 22, 2008 03:59 PM: This comment is directed to the following, Jimmy, Don, and Donald, your little remarks about my brah is uncall for. My brah is a hard working individual, i guarantee if you guys step on the field with him all three of you guys would get smacked. Dont get me wrong yea he did come out of a JC but trust me, his dedicated to football and he is gonna make it. Really if you all think that my brah is not that good, well theres only one way to settle it and thats to see him on the field. Well anyways this is for my brah i love you and you should be use to all these haters. Just know that we are all out in the town cheerin you on.


    Angela Usison wrote on April 09, 2008 12:00 PM:
    >>One thing you must all know, is that Vaha does not give up, specially in football, even when you think he's not going to keep going, he suprises you, and comes back 10 times better!...

    i am so proud to be able to read about Heivaha aka "vaha" Mafi's success at UNLV, he is greatly missed at home and is never forgotten, he has so much energy off and on the field. He has alot more to learn but we are all cheering for him here at home! we are all proud of him. And i Love him very much!

    -"Angie"(his girlfriend back home in California)


    Ricardo wrote on March 25, 2008 09:21 PM: Everyone thinks Kruger is so great. But he has received a FREE present every year with the Mountain West Conference giving UNLV the automatic bid. Perhaps if the Mountain West Conference could give Sanford the automatic bid to the Las Vegas Bowl, people would think he is the greatest thing since butter too!


    The Donald wrote on March 25, 2008 02:56 PM: Big, dumb JC transfers - that's all UNLV can get. If this Mafi guy was so good, he would have gotten a scholarship at a real football school. He probably scored a 400 on the SAT's. So he goes to JC and slips through the cracks at UNLV. Whoopee!! Same old story every year.


    SB wrote on March 25, 2008 12:17 PM: So they fire a coach in Ragina Miller who has been @ UNLV for over 10 years, has been competative in at least 7 of those years, taken the team to the NCAA tournament twice and only recently has had 2 losing seasons... BUT they keep a joke of a coach in Mike Sanford who just finished his 3rd 2 win season! That is comedy! Lets fire Mike Sanford and let Lon coach both the football team and basketball team. All Sanford does is complain about not having a quality QB, but you never herd Lon complain about not having a big man and the line-up height equivilent to a high school team.


    Willy Wonka wrote on March 25, 2008 10:04 AM: Who cares if its ridiculous or rediculous as long as the guy can hit and tackle we'll take him.
    OH BUY THE WAY DON ITS "THEIR" not "THERE"


    the don wrote on March 25, 2008 09:40 AM: i think there football team is a joke


    Sufferin' Succotash wrote on March 25, 2008 09:17 AM: I think spelling the word ridiculous with an "e" is ridiculous.


    Jimmy wrote on March 25, 2008 08:50 AM: The long dreadlock hair that seems to be the trend lately in football should be banned. I think it is rediculous.