SEATTLE — I met Lofa Tatupu 15 years ago. He was an All-American linebacker with a famous last name on a loaded USC team, and his personal story made for a meaty feature for ESPN The Magazine in the run-up to the Trojans’ Orange Bowl date with Adrian Peterson and Oklahoma for the national title.
His dad was former USC and NFL fullback Mosi Tatupu, whose name was on a trophy that went to the nation’s top special teams player. Lofa grew up in New England, the son of an NFL folk hero, but he never seemed to have any trace of entitlement. He’d transferred to USC from FCS program Maine. He was gregarious, a little naïve and very open.
At the photo shoot for the story, he confided that he was leaving early for the NFL. He said he knew he wasn’t going to be a first-round pick even if he stayed for his senior season because he didn’t have the kind of measurables the NFL wants (he was listed at 6 feet and 225 pounds at USC that season). He’d make his money on…