Viliami Moala, a highly sought-after defensive tackle from Grant High School in California, made his intentions known at the US Army All American Bowl in San Antonio, Texas, choosing the California Golden Bears. Moala, at 6-foot-2 326 pounds is a huge body in the middle, clogging the lanes on the defensive line. Before the game, Moala, who holds offers from nearly every Pac-10 team, narrowed his choices down to the Oregon State Beavers, California Golden Bears and Oregon Ducks before picking the Bears. The Washington Huskies were in on his recruitment and had been hanging around, even drawing him in for a visit.
Moala has had a strong game at the US Army All American Bowl, even registering a blocked kick in the third quarter. His size and strength were clear advantages, even against the ultra-talented All-American lineman he’s facing. Teammate James Sample committed to the Washington Huskies earlier, and there was some thought the two would stick together, though that didn’t happen.
Moala is rated as a five-star defensive tackle is ranked as the No. 14 overall recruit in the class of 2011, and is the No. 2 DT. Though he did publicly choose the Bears, Moala had said earlier in the week that he would continue to make official visits ahead of the signing deadline in early February.
In the fourth quarter, the East leads the West in the US Army All-American Bowl, 13-10.