Mike Iupati

Michael Iupati (born May 12, 1987) is an American football guard for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). A native of American Samoa, Iupati was raised in California. He played college football for the University of Idaho, and earned All-American honors. He was selected 17th overall by the 49ers in the 2010 NFL Draft.

Early years
Born and raised on American Samoa, Iupati's family moved to Garden Grove, California, after he had finished junior high school. He is the son of Aposetolo and Belinda Iupati, and has two brothers and one sister. He attended Western High School in Anaheim, California, where he began playing football under the guidance of Odell Harrington, the school's half-Samoan football coach. His first chances to play came in his sophomore year, when senior Fili Moala injured his foot two games into the season. Playing lineman on both sides of the ball, Iupati received all-state and all-conference honors and served as a team captain. As a junior, he had 80 tackles and 12 sacks and earned a first team All-CIF selection. He also competed in wrestling and track.

Considered only a two-star recruit by both Rivals.com and Scout.com, Iupati was not ranked among the best offensive lineman prospects in the nation. Further he struggled academically, caused by a language barrier, as English is his second language. Not having a high enough SAT score or sufficient grades, Iupati was planning to attend junior college until Johnny Nansen saw him in 2005, at a junior college's barbecue hosted for potential recruits. Nansen, then an assistant at Idaho under head coach Nick Holt, offered him a spot with the Vandals the next day and spent considerable time trying to convince Iupati and his family that the Western Athletic Conference university on the Palouse was a better choice than junior college.

College career
Iupati attended the University of Idaho, and played for the Idaho Vandals football team from 2006 to 2009. Because of academic problems, he was ineligible to play and therefore unable to receive a scholarship or financial aid. His family took out a loan to pay out-of-state tuition and room and board for his first year. He joined the Vandals football team in 2006, Iupati saw action in a backup role as a redshirt freshman under head coach Dennis Erickson. As a sophomore in 2007, he started all 12 games at left guard and became an impact player on the line for the struggling Vandals, under first-year head coach Robb Akey.

Iupati had off-season shoulder surgery and did not return to the lineup until the third game of the 2008 season. He went on to start eight of the 10 games in which he played. He earned second team All-WAC recognition in his junior year. For the 2009 season, Iupati was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award. He was listed at No. 9 on Rivals.com′s preseason interior lineman power ranking.

During the 2009 season, Iupati started all 12 games at left guard, played 807 snaps and had 49 knockdowns and 21 pancake blocks. He did not allow a quarterback sack and just five defensive players he has blocked have even pressured quarterbacks Nathan Enderle or Brian Reader. He helped the Vandals record their first winning season since 1999, and their first bowl game win since 1998, as they beat the Bowling Green Falcons 43–42 in the Humanitarian Bowl.

On November 24, 2009, Iupati was named one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy, alongside Russell Okung and winner Ndamukong Suh. Iupati was a consensus 2009 All-American and also named first team All-WAC. He was the first Idaho Vandal to receive All-American honors since Jerry Kramer in 1957 (honorable mention), and the first All-American from the WAC since Ryan Clady in 2007.

2010 NFL Draft
Iupati was considered one of the best offensive guard prospects available in the 2010 NFL Draft. According to several scouts he projected as a late first or early second round selection. The Sporting News′ Russ Lande reported that "nearly every scout who has evaluated Iupati on film says he has the footwork and athleticism to be an NFL left tackle." According to Sports Illustrated's Tony Pauline Iupati was "the highest-rated guard since Steve Hutchinson," whom the Seattle Seahawks selected with the 17th pick in the 2001 NFL Draft.

To prepare for the NFL Combine, Iupati relocated to Irvine and worked with former NFL lineman Jackie Slater at least four days a week, at both guard and tackle. By the time of the combine, Iupati was ranked as high as 15th best player overall on several draft boards as well as the only guard projected to go in the first two rounds by NFLDraftScout.com. Though Iupati only scored a 13 on the Wonderlic intelligence test, it did not stop the San Francisco 49ers from selecting Iupati in the 1st round with the 17th pick overall. It was the first time the 49ers used a first round pick on an interior offensive lineman since selecting Forrest Blue in 1968. Iupati was the highest selected Idaho Vandal since Ray McDonald went 13th overall to the Washington Redskins in the 1967 NFL Draft.

San Francisco 49ers
On July 30, Iupati signed with the 49ers and reportedly received a five-year contract worth $18.25 million with $10.8 million guaranteed. He has worked with the 49ers' first-string offense at left guard since David Baas was injured in training camp.

Iupati had a strong start to the 2010 season, not committing a penalty, or allowing a sack until Week 5. He made valuable contributions to the 49ers' running game, delivering downfield blocks. ESPN's Mike Sandos selected Iupati to his 2010 All-NFC West Team, while the Pro Football Writers Association named him one of their 2010 NFL All-Rookie selections.

In 2012, Iupati had an outstanding season and made the 2012 All-Pro first team. He was also one of the six 49ers selected as Pro Bowl starters.

Football family
Iupati's younger brother Andrew currently plays defensive tackle for the Oregon Ducks.