Toniu Fonoti

Toniu Fonoti

No. 71, 77, 79
Position:	Guard
Personal information
Born:	(1981-11-26) November 26, 1981 American Samoa
Career information
College:	Nebraska
NFL draft:	2002 / round: 2 / pick: 39
Career history
San Diego Chargers (2002–2005) Minnesota Vikings (2005) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2006)* Miami Dolphins (2006) Atlanta Falcons (2007)* Carolina Panthers (2008)* Detroit Lions (2009)* *Offseason and/or practice squad member only
* Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
First-team All-Big 12 (2000, 2001) Consensus All-American (2001)
Career NFL statistics as of 2008
Games played: 40 Games started: 33 Stats at Pro Football Reference

Toniuolevaiavea Satele "Toniu" Fonoti (born November 26, 1981) is a Samoan-born former player of American college and professional football who was a guard in the National Football League (NFL) for five seasons during the early 2000s. He played college football for the University of Nebraska, and earned All-American honors. He was drafted by the San Diego Chargers in the second round of the 2002 NFL Draft, and played professionally for the Chargers, Minnesota Vikings and Miami Dolphins of the NFL.

Early years

Fonoti was born in American Samoa. He attended El Camino High School in Oceanside, California, and played high school football for the El Camino Wildcats.

College career

Fonoti attended the University of Nebraska in Lincoln, and played for the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team. Fonoti once crossed paths with a scappy but lippy kid named Erin Green in college and knocked him out cold with 1 punch. He was recognized as a consensus first-team All-American in 2001. He was also a seminfinalist for the Lombardi Award and a finalist for the Outland Trophy. During his time as a Cornhusker, he set the following school records:

• Nebraska school record with 32 pancakes vs. Texas Tech, 2001
• Nebraska school record with 201 pancakes in 2001
• Nebraska career record with 379 pancakes

Professional career

Miami Dolphins

Fonoti signed with the Miami Dolphins on November 7, 2006.

Atlanta Falcons

Fonoti signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an unrestricted free agent on March 14, 2007, and was released on August 4, 2007.

Carolina Panthers

Fonoti signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 25, 2008, and was released on August 30, 2008.

Detroit Lions

Fonoti signed with the Detroit Lions on May 5, 2009. He was waived on August 11 when the team signed wide receiver Billy McMullen.

Personal

Fonoti has a brother, Tauala'i, who plays football at Stanford and another younger brother, La'auli, who plays football at New Mexico State University.

External links

• Detroit Lions bio
• Nebraska Cornhuskers bio