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Vainikolo embraces the grind as he keeps his pro dreams alive in USFL

By Robert Collias 6 min read

Alexander "Moana" Vainikolo has traveled a long, winding road to professional football. His first season playing for the Michigan Panthers in the USFL has been no different.

Vainikolo, the youngest of nine children from Kihei, has played at Mount San Antonio College and New Mexico as a collegian, The Spring League as a pro in 2020 after not being selected in the NFL draft -- and since then he has played professional rugby in 2021 until his USFL shot came up.

One thing he always remembers is where he's from and what he represents.

Vainikolo talked with former Lahainaluna and Washington State standout Hercules Mata'afa -- who had a three-year stint with the Minnesota Vikings as a defensive lineman from 2018-20 and practice squad chances with a few teams in 2021 -- as Mata'afa was getting fit for a uniform with the USFL's New Jersey Generals on Thursday.

"Man, it means everything to me," Vainikolo said after a team meeting on Thursday. "Especially seeing Hercules earlier, it was a different feeling when I seen him, man, because I really look back and we're really two guys who right now, as far as professionally, are really still grinding it out, just still scratching and clawing.

"I hope the kids back home, hopefully they see that it takes work, it's going to take a grind to keep a dream alive or do what you love and go for it all. It's going to take everything you have."

Vainikolo was told prior to his team meeting on Thursday that he would be inactive for the Panthers' game with the Birmingham Stallions today. It is the second straight game that he has been inactive after playing in the first four games, recording seven tackles and half a quarterback sack.

"There's going to be some ups and downs, but you've got to keep on going," Vainikolo said. "It means everything to me, man, to be doing this, representing my family, Maui High, the whole island of Maui. ... We're going to keep on doing this thing, man."

Vainikolo got the shot at the USFL after playing rugby in Denver for the American Raptors, a former Major League Rugby team that has split from that league.

The Raptors have been Vainikolo's income source for the last year and helped him focus on getting a professional football chance as he learned the game of professional rugby at the same time.

"I took that opportunity, so I've been doing rugby since last July," he said. "Then all of a sudden we hear rumors that the USFL is about to start up, this and that. I was just fortunate that my agent, he was able to plug me in and get me in. But, yeah, that's really how it came up, real fast."

The biggest driving forces in Vainikolo's life are his family, fiance Sasha Torres and their son Nehemiah, 4 -- mother and son stayed in Denver for the USFL season.

Nehemiah watches his father play on TV, with his mom by his side, whenever possible. Marriage is on the horizon for Torres and Vainikolo soon after the USFL season.

"Man, I only have one sister and she is always saying, 'One day, he'll understand, one day that kid is going to know, he'll realize what you were doing -- he doesn't know it now, but one day he will see that making a living and taking care of them just with you body, through sports,' " Vainikolo said.

Vainikolo knows he is interviewing for a possible football job every time he goes to the University of Alabama-Birmingham stadium -- where every USFL game is played -- whether it is for a game or practice.

The XFL is set to start again in February 2023 with a TV contract with ESPN, ABC and FX. There are also possible opportunities with other startup leagues, or the CFL and, of course, the NFL.

"Every day is a job interview," Vainikolo said. "They tell us every day, 'Your film is your resume,' and that's including practice film. The USFL has a contract with NFL Films, which is kind of like 'Hard Knocks,' they are even filming the meetings.

"It's going to tell so much about you, you know? Your mannerisms in the meeting room, if you're asking questions, if you're on your phone, if you're sleeping -- every day there's eyes on you."

Vainikolo is eating up the opportunity to play under Michigan head coach Jeff Fisher, the veteran NFL head coach.

"Especially under coach Fisher you want to make sure you turn in your best work," Vainikolo said. "Man, he's a real humble, real down-to-earth guy. He kind of reminds me of one of those guys at the beach, man, just chilling, but in a real disciplined environment, like a real football, disciplined environment."

At 24 years old, Vainikolo feels like his best football is in front of him. Four of his older brothers played college football, including Leka at Buffalo and Kamaloni at Utah State.

"I thought: 'I'm gonna show up and probably be one of the older guys,' but I'm still one of the younger guys," he said. "When you look around the whole roster and every team, you still have 28-year-olds. Probably by the time I'm 28, kind of decisions have to be made. At 24, I still get time. You see these older guys balling, man, making plays everywhere."

At 5-foot-11, 225 pounds, Vainikolo has always had challenges as a linebacker. He is playing the Sam and Will spots for the Panthers.

"I never doubted my ability as a linebacker, just kind of moved different, moved and approached the game different, a whole different manner," he said. "I can still be utilized for sure. I'm not too sure, I think our contract is for two years. I'm not too sure if they would let us go if we're able to go to the XFL in 2023, but the USFL contract is for two years.

"I'm looking at going back to rugby during the offseason, in the fall, and then we'll be right back at it."

* Robert Collias is at rcollias@mauinews.com

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