Is Hercules Mata’afa the Real Deal at Defensive Tackle?

[ThunderGod]

There he red-shirted as a freshman before getting consistently better, and more productive, each season as a defensive tackle. In his last season (2017), he was the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Polynesian Player of the Year, consensus All-American, and first-team All Pac-12. He played in 13 games, starting 12, with 45 tackles, 22.5 tackles for loss (top 5 nationally), including 10.5 sacks, and two forced fumbles.
Below are a handful of plays that led to those stats, and demonstrating the traits the Vikings coaches and players mentioned he showed in OTAs this spring.https://www.dailynorseman.com/2019/6/23/18701082/hercules-mataafa-defensive-tackle-minnesota-vikings

[Guest]

He's really got his work cut out for him. Practice squad might be the best place for him and then possible roster spot next year.

[Guest]

It'll be interesting to see him in training camp and preseason.  If you haven't seen his highlights, the dude is QUICK and slippery.

I could see him making the squad as a pass rushing specialist.  Tom Johnson made himself some money with the Vikings in that role and he was an undersized DT around 285 lbs.

[Guest]

I keep forgetting about Mata'afa. Maybe that's good, because right now...hell, he's not even Mr. Mankato yet, he's Mr. Eagan. Mr OTA. But if he can live up to the hype he's been getting, it would be huge for the Vikings. 

Was talking to a friend the other day and he asked me "what one position would a breakout player have the most impact for the Vikings?" It's obviously 3T. That's the one position on this team that I see as a potential problem if someone doesn't emerge. There are a few other positions that aren't as strong as others (WLB, RG, WR3), but none as important as 3T.

Only reason Hercules wasn't taken in the draft was his weight (250 lbs) and no clarity on where he'd play in the NFL. PFF ranked him 63rd overall prospect because they don't care about things like that. They look at production. And by that standard he really should've been a 3rd rounder. But he's 275 now. He still probably needs another 15 or so pounds to become a full time player on the line, but he could find a role as a pass rusher right away. 

[Guest]

I always root for that undersized undrafted D lineman. Longing for the next Randle.

[Guest]

The quickness is impressive. That first clip were the lineman gets to him and can't do anything with him was the most impressive.

Let's see what he does when the pads go on. I like our history with undersized UDFA at the 3T...sometimes it's not the size of the dog in the fight, it's the size of the fight in the dog...

Woof

[Guest]

Zimmer has praised him a ton and he looks really quick. It amazes me that his size did that. He would have been a 3rd round pick if he was just a bit heavier.
Zimmer likes to take these guys that are "tweeners" and mold them. How is Jaylen Homes doing? I haven't heard a ton on him.

[Guest]

More than likely not.