Junior linebacker Kipeli Koniseti rests during a break at the Sun Devils’ practice at Sun Devil Stadium on Thursday. Koniseti won the respect of his teammates for raising a family while being a full-time student and member of the ASU football team. (Photo by Aaron Lavinsky)Everyone is motivated by something different, and 18-22 year old college football players are no exception. The typical ASU football player is motivated by any number of things, but one player is playing for something very few of his teammates can relate to.
“My wife and my kids are my biggest motivation,” junior linebacker Kipeli Koniseti said. “I got married right out of high school to my high school sweetheart.”
In addition to playing linebacker, Koniseti is a husband to Sarina and a father to Latana, 2, Kipeli Jr., 1, and Malakai, 4 months.
Focusing on both academics and playing Division I football while raising a family is certainly a lot to handle, but this is not the first challenge Koniseti has faced.
During his senior year at Grant High School in Sacramento, Calif. – where he played quarterback – Koniseti committed to play football for the Sun Devils and everything appeared to be falling into place. However, Koniseti failed to fulfill all the requirements necessary for him to attend ASU and was forced to enroll in junior college at College of the Sequoias.
Despite excelling as both a quarterback and outside linebacker, Koniseti had doubts and felt he may have missed his chance to play collegiate football at a high level.
“A couple times I thought my football career was over because nothing was for sure,” Koniseti said. “I didn’t know if ASU, or any college, was going to offer me again.”
The future looked bleak, but Sarina believed in her husband and constantly encouraged him to stay positive and persistent.
“I knew if he did everything he had to do he would get there,” Sarina said. “I knew if he was patient and trusted in God everything would fall into place.”
As he was getting ready to leave College of the Sequoias, it did not appear Koniseti was going to receive another chance to don the maroon and gold. The 6-foot-2, 238-pound linebacker was set to commit to another school, but his wife encouraged him to call the ASU coaches, who told him they were five minutes away from offering him a scholarship.
Koniseti graciously accepted.
“It was a long one,” Koniseti said of his journey to ASU. “It was a good experience for me and it helped me (learn to) not take these chances for granted.”
Koniseti’s trek to Tempe was certainly a struggle, but the linebacker always wanted to play in Sun Devil Stadium. Koniseti’s desire and persistence are ultimately what led to his success, said linebackers coach Ron West.
“The biggest thing is he always wanted to come here,” West said. “Since he found his way back, he’s worked hard to maintain his GPA … We all believe in him as a staff and know he will work hard.”
Although Koniseti officially joined the Sun Devils prior to the 2011 season, his first season in the Valley was hardly memorable. The California native was primarily used on special teams and recorded six tackles while appearing in nine games.
Koniseti did not line up at linebacker as much as he would have hoped for, but practicing and learning from Shelly Lyons, Vontaze Burfict and Colin Parker was beneficial to his development and career.
“I learned a lot from those guys,” Koniseti said. “We learned a lot together. I learned how to play linebacker from those guys.”
No longer in the shadows of those that came before him, Koniseti will likely see more playing time in 2012 and West believes Koniseti’s versatility will be beneficial to the defense’s success this season.
“I think Kipeli is going to help us,” West said. “We can play Kipeli in two spots. We will be able to play him at ‘Devil’ and ‘Sam.’”
While those not directly involved with the ASU football program will see Koniseti’s on-field contributions to the defense, his teammates appreciate his maturity and ability to keep things in perspective. Koniseti clearly has a lifestyle different from the typical collegiate athlete, but it is one his teammates respect him for.
“He’s really mature,” redshirt senior linebacker Brandon Magee said. “He has to do everything that we do (while raising a family). He has three kids and a wife. That’s a lot of nagging, a lot of crying (and) a lot of diaper changing. That’s a strong man, stronger than I’d be.”
Koniseti’s past has provided him with the strength his teammates now see, but none of it would have been possible if Koniseti did not have his wife giving him support along the way.
“Every time I thought it was too late she just told me to not give up,” Koniseti said. “She always picked me up while I was down. She’s always there pushing me.”
Reach the reporter at william.boor@asu.edu
