The Wolverine: Covering University of Michigan Football and Sports
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68 THE WOLVERINE MARCH 2017 2017 FOOTBALL RECRUITING ISSUE BY CHRIS BALAS Physical and tough, yet fun lov- ing and coachable — that's how Ber- rien Springs (Mich.) High head coach Tony Scaccia would describe two- way standout and Michigan lineman signee Phillip Paea after coaching him for four years. Scaccia has sent a number of players to the Division I level during his coaching career, but Paea ranks with the best of them. "He's such a pleasure to be around. We're going to miss him," he said with a sad laugh. "That's the bottom line. I can't say enough good things about the kid. When I first got him as a freshman he was about 6-2 225, had played inside linebacker and full- back. I've said this before — every year he moved in and down, both sides of the ball. "His sophomore year he played right guard for us after one of our kids, Nick Padla, went to Michigan State. He played linebacker as a soph- omore. His junior year he played end and had a monster year, and his se- nior year he was 300 pounds, but he still could have played end for us. We just had other kids who could play there, so we moved him inside to get our best players on the field." He dominated there, Scaccia said, even if the numbers weren't eye opening. It's hard to put up huge stats playing on the interior defen- sive line, but Paea controlled the line of scrimmage. He notched 53 tackles, eight tackles for loss, three sacks and one forced fumble as a senior after notching 67 tackles (12 for loss), two sacks and a pair of fumble recoveries the year prior. His contributions weren't limited to defense. He also played on the offensive line and blocked for a rush- ing attack that produced 3,242 yards and 48 touchdowns. He earned USA Today All-USA Michigan first-team accolades as an offensive lineman and was named to the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press All-State Dream Team. Michigan recruited Paea to play on the defensive line, but Scaccia be- lieves his standout could be a domi- nant offensive lineman, too, if the need arises. Paea played both ways in the January Polynesian Bowl in Hawai'i and more than held his own, the coach noted. "He was the only lineman to play both sides," he said. "He loves [Mich- igan defensive line coach] Greg Mat- tison, and Coach Mattison is really high on him, but they could explore his potential to play on the offen- sive side. There might be other guys around the country that can do what he does defensively, but offensively his athleticism and size could make him special. "But he really is an all-around ath- lete, a very good athlete for a kid that big. He's just physical, nasty … has all the intangibles that make him a great defensive player, too. What- ever they decide to do, it's going to work out. He's going to be a heck of a player." Paea's been comfortable in Ann Arbor for a long time, but he became even more of a fit when he found out he had a distant cousin on the team in fellow Polynesian and defensive tackle Bryan Mone, a rising redshirt junior. On one visit, Scaccia recalled, Mattison lined up Paea on one side of him and Mone on the other and asked defensive coordinator Don Brown, "How would you like to have these guys together on your line?" "Phillip's mom used to live with Bryan's mom. They figured that out when they first met," Scaccia re- called. "They're similar in a lot of ways. Both have dynamic personali- ties, and athletically and physically they are cut from the same cloth. "They are going to be really good … I'm excited to see them together." There was never a doubt after he committed that he'd remain a Wol- verine and sign his letter of intent Feb. 1, Paea told reporters from the Polynesian Bowl. Not only will he get to play for one of the nation's top programs, he noted, but he'll also get to play close to home. That means everything to a kid for whom family comes first. "Just being from Michigan, with my family being there, my parents not far from Ann Arbor is a big deal," he said. "My family always watches me play and being able to do that in college is really cool. "Michigan also has a great tradi- tion, and I really want to be a part of that." He'll get his chance soon enough. ❏ Phillip Paea Is Michigan's Latest Polynesian Catch Paea was named an All-State Dream Team selection by both the Detroit News and Detroit Free Press during his senior year. PHOTO BY BRANDON BROWN