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You're about as likely to have watched his high school highlight tape as that of any recruit in the nation.
That's because David Fangupo was a sensation for his novelty value as a 300-pound-plus fullback at Kealakehe High in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, even getting the Rick Reilly treatment on ESPN.com.
But after signing in 2013 to play for Norm Chow at Hawaii — more specifically, to play tackle under then-defensive line coach Lewis Powell at Hawaii — he wound up sitting out the 2013 season and moving to the Bay Area to work out with his younger brother's high school team.
"It's a tough road, but that doesn't mean it can't be traveled," said Fangupo, who met Kyle Whittingham at Utah's Long Beach satellite camp Saturday and committed on the spot.
Fangupo was first contacted by Utah defensive coordinator John Pease and later corresponded with assistant director of player personnel Pablo Cano, whom he considers an uncle-like figure for the interest taken in Fangupo's well-being.
It also didn't hurt that Fangupo had kept in touch with Powell, now Utah's tight ends coach, and similarly credits Powell's genuine concern for his progress.
Fangupo's invitation back into competitive football came care of Kealakeke teammate Giovanni Chanes, who informed him that his Cerritos coaches had a spot for a 6-foot-2, 325-pound man who was once nimble enough to elude much smaller opponents. (When he wasn't steamrolling them, at least.)
Fangupo totaled 33 tackles and two sacks in nine games last year for the Falcons. He has the option this year of playing for Cerritos and arriving at the U. as a three-to-play-two player in 2016 or redshirting and retaining three seasons of full eligibility. He's undecided at this point, and says Utah coaches have pledged to support him either way.
Fangupo is the father of a 1-year-old boy, Levi, and a 5-month-old girl, Sosefina. He hopes they'll be able to live with him in Salt Lake City.
After football, he'd like to work as a high school counselor and help kids who struggle, as he once did, to see a path to college without athletic scholarship.
Might Fangupo one day tote the rock again, by design? It's not out of the question. Chow told him that he'd planned on a couple of special packages, and Whittingham apparently raised the possibility again Saturday. Utah once had a secret package for Star Lotulelei, Fangupo said.
Of course, Utah is also the alma mater of noted Hawaiian fullback Goliath Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala.
"I told him, any opportunity to be on the field, I'll take it," he said. Scoring touchdowns "gives me another opportunity to point to mom, right?"
Below are links to the recruits that the Tribune has reported on in the 2016 class.
— Matthew Piper
Twitter: @matthew_piper