BYU football: Vakapuna ready to roll again

PROVO — It's strange to hear a senior — and a team leader — who has rushed for 854 yards and scored 13 touchdowns in his career say that he's trying to prove himself. But that's the mindset of BYU's Fui Vakapuna.

In the wake of an injury-riddled 2007 season, Vakapuna is happy to be healthy as he participates in spring drills. Last fall, the Cougar running back was recovering from ankle surgery following an injury suffered during the 2006 season. He rarely ran with the same aggressiveness that he had prior to the injury. On top of that, during the loss at Tulsa early in the season, he broke his hand, which sidelined him for three games.

Vakapuna gained 252 yards on 73 carries in 2007, with 97 of those yards coming in the regular-season finale at San Diego State.

Meanwhile, Harvey Unga burst onto the scene, rushing for more than 1,000 yards and earning Mountain West Conference freshman of the year honors.

Now, Vakapuna says his ankle is "100 percent" and feels good. "I'm just coming out trying to prove myself again. I'm trying to show the coaches that I'm back and ready to roll."

When asked about having to cope with injuries, Vakapuna admitted it has been tough.

"I think my hand injury was a blessing in disguise to help my ankle heal a little bit more," he said. "When I came back I had to find opportunities to play. Other than that, I think I'm back. I feel good. This spring I'm breaking everything in and feeling comfortable."

In addition to Vakapuna, BYU boasts a deep and talented stable of running backs with Unga, Manase Tonga, J.J. DiLuigi and Wayne Latu.

"We all get along. We all help each other out and we learn from each other," said Vakapuna, who received the program's Leon White Award for Unselfish Devotion. "It doesn't matter who gets the ball, it matters who's going to help move the chains and who can help in each situational play. Everybody has their strengths and their weaknesses.

"The coaches will put us in positions where we can have that advantage."

With the annual spring game approaching (April 12), Vakapuna is looking to return to the form he displayed before his ankle injury. He finished the 2006 campaign with 445 yards and eight touchdowns on the ground, averaging 4.8 yards per carry.

"There's always competition, with myself mainly," said Vakapuna. "I know what I have to do. Only I can stop myself. Last year was a mind game with me and my ankle. This year I've been more focused to contribute more than I ever have before. Hopefully I'll stay healthy throughout the whole season, instead of being 50 percent here and 80 percent there."

Vakapuna wants to make the most of his final season in Provo, though he can't believe that he is a senior.

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