Sua Opeta

Sua Opeta
refer to caption
Opeta with the Eagles in 2021
No. 76 – Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Position:Guard
Personal information
Born: (1996-08-15) August 15, 1996 (age 28)
Bountiful, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight:305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school:Stansbury Park
College:Weber State (2014–2018)
Undrafted:2019
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • 2× First-team All-Big Sky (2017, 2018)
Career NFL statistics as of 2024
Games played:38
Games started:10
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Iosua Opeta (born August 15, 1996) is an American professional football guard for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). After playing college football for Weber State, he was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles as an undrafted free agent in 2019.

Early life

Opeta was born in Utah and grew up in Stansbury Park after moving to the town when he was eight. He began playing football at the age of ten. In high school, Opeta played defense and offense. He signed with Weber State over an offer from Southern Utah because Weber State wanted him on the defensive line.[1]

College career

Opeta was a member of the Weber State Wildcats for five seasons, redshirting as a true freshman. He played defensive tackle as a redshirt freshman before moving to the offensive line during the following offseason because he was promised a starting role.[2] In his first year as an offensive lineman, Opeta was an honorable mention All-Big Sky Conference.[1] Opeta was named an FCS All-American twice.[2] He was named to the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[1]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 4+1⁄4 in
(1.94 m) 		301 lb
(137 kg) 		33+1⁄4 in
(0.84 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 5.02 s 1.66 s 2.85 s 4.73 s 8.06 s 33.0 in
(0.84 m)		 9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		 39 reps
Sources:[3][4]

At the NFL Scouting Combine, Opeta put up 39 reps of 225 pounds on bench press, the most out of any offensive linemen.[5]

Philadelphia Eagles

After going undrafted in 2019, Opeta was signed by the Philadelphia Eagles for training camp. He spent the first 12 weeks on the practice squad. On December 3, he was promoted to the active roster.[2][6]

On September 5, 2020, Opeta was waived by the Eagles and was signed to their practice squad the next day.[7][8] He was elevated to the active roster on September 12 for the team's Week 1 game against the Washington Football Team and reverted to the practice squad on September 14.[9] He was promoted to the active roster on September 15.[10] He was placed on injured reserve on November 28, 2020.[11]

On August 31, 2021, Opeta was waived by the Eagles and re-signed to the practice squad the next day.[12][13] He was signed to the active roster on September 29, 2021.[14]

Opeta played in seven games for the Eagles in 2022, and was made a healthy scratch for the team’s Week 17 game against the New Orleans Saints. He was waived by the team on January 6, 2023, prior to the team’s season finale against the New York Giants, and re-signed to the practice squad.[15] On February 15, Opeta signed a reserve/future contract with the Eagles.[16]

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

On March 15, 2024, Opeta signed with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[17] On July 31, it was announced that Opeta had suffered a torn ACL in practice.[18] He was placed on injured reserve two days later, ending his season.[19]

References

  1. ^ a b c DiCecco, Andrew (April 29, 2019). "Getting to know the newly signed Iosua Opeta". Eagles Wire. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  2. ^ a b c Schaller, Olivia (December 3, 2019). "Eagles agree to promote G Sua Opeta from the practice squad to the active roster and waive WR Mack Hollins". Philadelphia Eagles. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  3. ^ "Sua Opeta Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  4. ^ "2019 NFL Draft Scout Iosua Opeta College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  5. ^ Hein, Brett (April 27, 2019). "Report: Weber State's Iosua Opeta signs with Philadelphia Eagles; other Utah draft notes". Standard-Examiner. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  6. ^ Erby, Glenn (December 3, 2019). "Eagles promote G Sua Opeta from practice squad to the active roster". Eagles Wire. Retrieved December 10, 2019.
  7. ^ McPherson, Chris (September 5, 2020). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  8. ^ Erby, Glenn (September 6, 2020). "Report: Philadelphia Eagles to sign G Sua Opeta to their practice squad". Eagles Wire. Retrieved September 7, 2020.
  9. ^ McPherson, Chris (September 12, 2020). "Game Status Update: Eagles elevate DT T.Y. McGill and G Sua Opeta; downgrade DE Derek Barnett and RB Miles Sanders to out". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved September 29, 2020.
  10. ^ McPherson, Chris (September 15, 2020). "Roster Moves: Eagles sign G Sua Opeta to the active roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  11. ^ McPherson, Chris (November 28, 2020). "Eagles place G Sua Opeta on Injured Reserve". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. ^ McPherson, Chris (August 31, 2021). "Eagles announce initial 53-man roster". PhiladelphiaEagles.com.
  13. ^ "Eagles agree to terms with 15 players to join the practice squad". PhiladelphiaEagles.com. September 1, 2021.
  14. ^ Bowman, Paul (September 29, 2021). "Eagles Promote Sua Opeta To 53-Man Roster, Bring Back Familiar Face". SportsTalkPhilly.com. Retrieved September 29, 2021.
  15. ^ "Eagles waive Sua Opeta". bleedinggreennation.com. Retrieved January 6, 2023.
  16. ^ "Eagles sign 9 players to Reserve/Futures deals". theeagleswire.usatoday.com. Retrieved January 4, 2024.
  17. ^ Smith, Scott (March 15, 2024). "Bucs Bolster O-Line with Eagles' Sua Opeta". Buccaneers.com.
  18. ^ "Bucs guard Sua Opeta tears ACL in practice Tuesday night". tampabay.com. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
  19. ^ "Bucs put Sua Opeta on IR, sign LB Jay Person". nbcsports.com. Retrieved August 2, 2024.
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