“One of the first things I got was [Official 30] “When I come here, it feels like family,” he said after his first NFL walkthrough. “It's a family atmosphere here and that's one of the things I loved about this place. … I'm very grateful to have the opportunity to come back.”
He now joins a group of linebackers led by veteran leader Eric Kendricks, a former All-Pro who signed with the Cowboys in free agency off his contract with the San Francisco 49ers.
And Liufau is just as eager for the veteran to start picking Kendricks' brain as he is for coaching a group of young talent at the position.
“It's definitely his knowledge,” the rookie said of what he hopes to gain from playing with Kendricks. “He's been in the game for a very long time and he's playing at a very high level, so as a young player you want to get as much knowledge from him as possible, learn from him and be coached by him. Probably.
“So I'm excited to be able to meet all of the players and really learn from them and really learn what it means to be an NFL player and how to be successful as a linebacker in this league.” ing.”
One of the many things that impressed Mike Zimmer and the Cowboys about Liufau was his ability to understand and demonstrate everyone's role in the defense, regardless of position. It's not only a testament to his high soccer IQ, but also to his ambition to absorb as much of the game as possible in order to become an impactful player at the professional level.
“Notre Dame has a standard, especially for linebackers, that you have to know the following: [entire] “It helps us work to the best of our ability, but it also helps us be there for our teammates and help them when they need to know something. . They're always available,” he explained. to us. ”
As a first-year player, he will also be asked to contribute heavily on special teams, especially given the changes to kickoff rules next season.
It's a job he looks forward to taking on.
“Achieving that on special teams would be huge for me as a rookie,” said Liufau, who is fully aware of everything required of him in 2024. [special teams coordinator John “Bones” Fassel] It's going to be a big deal for me as a rookie. ”
Liufau and the other rookies will join as soon as the veterans begin participating in voluntary minicamp on May 21st. And when that happens, the rubber will begin to touch the room for a group of rookies who were technically still rookies just two weeks ago.college athlete
But for now, it's all about soaking up as much as possible this weekend, both on the field and in the conference room during the walk-through.
“I told the players yesterday. We all shared why we're here and I told the players that I'm here to serve them in any way I can,” Liufau said. “As a linebacker, I feel like I can contribute on both defense and special teams. … I can't express it in words.
