Duck receiver not Big Ten kind of guy

Sophomore Tuinei hopes to land in end zone when UO meets Ohio State

By jason vondersmith

The Portland Tribune, Dec 17, 2009

L.E. Baskow / Portland Tribune

Oregon receiver Lavasier Tuinei is brought down by Oregon State’s Lance Mitchell (top) and David Pa'Aluhi III (45) in the Ducks’ 37-33 Civil War victory.

EUGENE — Oregon sophomore receiver Lavasier Tuinei considers himself a California guy, having been raised in the Golden State before living in Big Ten country for six years.

So, when the Oregon Ducks play Ohio State in the Rose Bowl, Jan. 1 at Pasadena, Calif., Tuinei won’t be sentimental about going against the Buckeyes of the Midwest.

“I’m not really a Big Ten kind of guy,” he says. “Really, I don’t like the Big Ten.”

Tuinei, from Westminster, Calif., prepped in Noblesville, Ind., for three years and at Hamilton Heights High of Arcadia, Ind., for one year, each school northeast of Indianapolis — and right in the thick of Notre Dame, Indiana and Purdue fandom. He and reserve defensive tackle Terrance Montgomery, from Pennsylvania, are the only Ducks from Big Ten country.

“Everybody loves Notre Dame and IU and all that, and I hate them,” Tuinei says. “I’m a West Coast guy, and they’re in their own little world over there.”

Although statistics might not show it, Tuinei has been a valuable member of the Ducks.

The receiver positions were somewhat in flux in training camp, with Jeff Maehl as the only full-time player back in the mix. D.J. Davis, a one-game starter in 2008, was coming off knee surgery. Rory Cavaille, a projected ’09 starter, suffered a shoulder injury in camp. Speedster Jamere Holland was his inconsistent self. Garrett Embry was competing, but not separating himself from the others. Touted newcomers Tyrece Gaines and Diante Jackson, as well as Blake Cantu, were learning the system and coming along slowly. Aaron Pflugrad and Chris Harper had left the program.

With Cavaille out, Tuinei ended up playing mostly slot, and he started eight of the Ducks’ 12 games, as a Maehl-Davis-Tuinei corps settled in. It surprised Tuinei to even play.

“I really thought I was going to redshirt, I really did,” he says. “I didn’t know I would play, up until right before Boise State.”

Blocking receivers

Tuinei goes to the Rose Bowl with 22 catches, tied for third on the team with Davis, behind Maehl and tight end Ed Dickson. Tuinei has 187 yards receiving, but with no touchdowns.

From the start, UO coach Chip Kelly liked what he saw in Tuinei, who, despite being 6-5 and only 205 pounds, plays with a physical edge.

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