Cowboys EXCLUSIVE: Viliami 'Junior' Fehoko - 'I'm The Complete Package'
Dallas Cowboys defensive coordinator Dan Quinn has, historically, enjoyed a lot of success with big-bodied, versatile defensive linemen.
Enter Cowboys fourth-round pick Viliami "Junior" Fehoko, who stands 6-4, 267 pounds, and is the reigning Mountain West Conference Defensive Player of the Year after a strong senior season at San Jose State.
The 23-year-old Fehoko was selected by Dallas at pick No. 129 and comes with the ability to play all over the defensive front, though Quinn has said he'll shade between the edge and 3-technique.
Perhaps most importantly, Quinn stressed that Fehoko will "hit the ground running" in Dallas "the first year" - leaving no doubt surrounding his belief in the newcomer to become a contributor this fall.
But who exactly is Fehoko?
CowboysSI.Com had the opportunity to sit down with him earlier this spring and discuss a variety of topics, ranging from his rugby background, relationship with his second cousin and Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle Vita Vea and his growth at San Jose State.
Meet Fehoko, a big man on the field with an even bigger personality off it ...
Among many others, there are two things that come to mind about Fehoko.
First, his family is athletic - very athletic. From another former San Jose State defensive lineman to a women's volleyball player and, of course, the aforementioned Vea, there's no shortage of family talent.
Fehoko comes from a close-knit family; he grew up a block away from Vea and would swim at his house as a kid. They don't talk too often anymore as they're busy with their own things, but the bond throughout remains strong.
Growing up in Stanford, California, Fehoko was a late bloomer in high school, breaking out in his senior year to earn first-team All-Bay Area honors.
But football wasn't the only sport Fehoko played - and that brings up the second point: he's always liked to hit people ... hard.
Fehoko was a member of the East Palo Alto Razorbacks rugby club, a K-12 organization a few miles away from his home. He spoke fondly of the experience - and believes it's translated onto the gridiron.
"Just not being scared to attack a tackle or somebody," Fehoko said. "When you're not in pads, you can be a little hesitant. Now, I'm padded and what's stopping me from running full speed through somebody's face, somebody's body?
"In terms of aggressiveness, violence and physicality, I think rugby had it all."
But now, Fehoko is all football; he loves the sport, to the extent that Pro Football Network dubbed him "one of the most intense defenders you'll find" in the 2023 draft class.
His play on the field speaks for itself - since playing in four games and redshirting as a true freshman, Fehoko suited up in the Spartans' final 45 games, starting all but once in that span.
Across his last three years, Fehoko has 12 and a half, 11 and a half and 19 tackles for loss, respectively, and has 22 sacks to his name in that span. He knocked down 14 passes at the line of scrimmage throughout his college career, proving his value even when he doesn't get to the quarterback.
From start to finish, Fehoko cited "leadership, accountability (and) responsibility" as the biggest things he improved on throughout his Spartans career.
He noted the value of teammates Cade Hall (two-time first team all-conference defensive lineman) and Jack Snyder (left tackle who signed with the Los Angeles Rams following last year's draft) for pushing him in practice as iron sharpened iron.
But there's another area where Fehoko grew ... and it embodies the businessman-like approach he's adapted in recent years.
"I used to be a big talker - I think I used to talk too much," Fehoko said. "But this past season, I just focused in on my goal every play and just make the play and get back to the line of scrimmage - time to do it again."
And Fehoko did it again ... and again ... and again - until people noticed.
He departed San Jose State with three consecutive first team All-Mountain West honors and was named a second-team All-American by multiple outlets - along with the prestige of being conference defensive player of the year.
His rise from swimming with Vea and playing rugby to Cowboys fourth-round pick has been unique - but it's helped foster a well-rounded football player who's set to bring the following to The Star this fall ...
"(I'm) somebody who loves to play this game, that won't take this opportunity and the gift that this game offers for granted," said Fehoko, working this month in minicamp and OTAs with Dallas. "They're going to get a violent, physical player in every aspect of the game, whether it's passing or rushing, chasing the ball down, pursuit to the ball everything.
"I think they're getting the complete package."
And with Quinn's belief paired with his track record of developing defensive linemen, it may simply be a matter of when, not if, that "package" is delivered inside Jerry's World.
You can follow Daniel Flick on Twitter @DFlickDraft
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