Samson Satele
Encyclopedia
Samson H. Satele is an American football
center
for the Oakland Raiders
of the National Football League
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft
. He played college football
at Hawaii
.
where he was a First-team All-State Offensive lineman as a senior
. He was also a three-time letterman in basketball
and track
, performing in the shot put
and the discus
. He was named the school's athlete of the year as a junior
.
. While there, he majored
in Sociology
.
As a true freshman in 2002, he redshirted
. As a redshirt freshman in 2003
, he made his first career start at Left tackle. The final 13 starts of his redshirt freshman season were at Left guard, as he earned Second-team All-Conference
honors. As a sophomore
in 2004
, he started all 13 games, including 10 at Left guard and three at Center. As a junior in 2005
, he started all 12 games at Left guard and was named a First-team All-WAC selection. He helped Hawai'i rank second in the nation in passing offense (384.25 ypg) and 11th in total offense (476.17 ypg). As a senior in 2006
, he served as a team captain
as a senior, while starting all 12 games at Center. He was a First-team All-WAC selection. He helped lead the offense that led the nation in total offense (559.21 ypg), passing offense (441.29 ypg) and scoring (46.86 ppg).
Satele started each of the 53 games in which he played during his college career, a streak that was the longest among active players in college football in 2006.
by the Miami Dolphins
. As a rookie in 2007, he started all four preseason games and all 16 regular season games at Center. He was selected to the all-rookie team by the Dallas Morning News, NFL.com's Gil Brandt and Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America, among others. During the 2008 season, Satele again started all 16 games at center but also guard late in the season. In the 2009 offseason, the Dolphins signed free agent center Jake Grove
, prompting speculation Satele could moved to right guard. Instead, the Dolphins traded him to the Oakland Raiders
on March 23, 2009 in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
and a swap of picks in the fourth round.
, that lasted only one game. Satele got his job back the following week and started the rest of the season (15 games) for a team with their best won-lost record at 8-8 since winning the AFC championship game during the 2002 NFL season
, playing on a good offensive line between Robert Gallery
(12 games) at left guard and Cooper Carlisle
(all 16 games) at right guard, helping Darren McFadden
obtain 1,157 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per rush. On opening day 2011, Satele played between Carlisle and a new left guard, rookie Stefen Wisniewski
, helping Darren McFadden
and others rush for 190 yards in a win against the Denver Broncos
.
linebacker
Alvis Satele. He is a cousin of former Hawai'i teammate and guard Hercules Satele, who was signed by the Arizona Cardinals
in 2008 and the Spokane Shock
of the af2
in 2009. He is also a distant cousin of Reagan Mauia
, who was also drafted by the Dolphins in the 2007 NFL Draft. He is also cousin of Isaac Leatiota, starting Offensive Guard for the WAC collegiate football team, the San Jose State Spartans
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
center
Center (American football)
Center is a position in American football and Canadian football . The center is the innermost lineman of the offensive line on a football team's offense...
for the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the second round of the 2007 NFL Draft
2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Hawaii
Hawaii Warriors football
The Hawaii Warriors football team represents the University of Hawaii at Mānoa in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The team, which is currently coached by Greg McMackin, is part of the Western Athletic Conference until 2012, when the team joins the Mountain West Conference.The Hawaii Warriors...
.
Early years
Satele attended Kailua High SchoolKailua High School
Kailua High School is a four-year public high school located in the Maunawili CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii, United States on the island of O‘ahu, adjacent to the Kailua CDP. The school serves students grades 9 through 12.-History:...
where he was a First-team All-State Offensive lineman as a senior
Twelfth grade
Twelfth grade or Senior year, or Grade Twelve, are the North American names for the final year of secondary school. In most countries students then graduate at age 17 or 18. In some countries, there is a thirteenth grade, while other countries do not have a 12th grade/year at all...
. He was also a three-time letterman in basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
and track
Track and field
Track and field is a sport comprising various competitive athletic contests based around the activities of running, jumping and throwing. The name of the sport derives from the venue for the competitions: a stadium which features an oval running track surrounding a grassy area...
, performing in the shot put
Shot put
The shot put is a track and field event involving "putting" a heavy metal ball—the shot—as far as possible. It is common to use the term "shot put" to refer to both the shot itself and to the putting action....
and the discus
Discus
Discus, "disk" in Latin, may refer to:* Discus , a progressive rock band from Indonesia* Discus , a fictional character from the Marvel Comics Universe and enemy of Luke Cage* Discus , a freshwater fish popular with aquarium keepers...
. He was named the school's athlete of the year as a junior
Eleventh grade
Eleventh Grade is the eleventh, and for some countries final, grade of secondary schools. Students are typically 16 or 17 years of age, depending on the country and the students' birthdays.-Brazil:...
.
College career
Satele was a four-year letterman at the University of HawaiiUniversity of Hawaii
The University of Hawaii System, formally the University of Hawaii and popularly known as UH, is a public, co-educational college and university system that confers associate, bachelor, master, and doctoral degrees through three university campuses, seven community college campuses, an employment...
. While there, he majored
Academic major
In the United States and Canada, an academic major or major concentration is the academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits....
in Sociology
Sociology
Sociology is the study of society. It is a social science—a term with which it is sometimes synonymous—which uses various methods of empirical investigation and critical analysis to develop a body of knowledge about human social activity...
.
As a true freshman in 2002, he redshirted
Redshirt (college sports)
Redshirt is a term used in American college athletics that refers to a delay or suspension of an athlete's participation in order to lengthen his or her period of eligibility...
. As a redshirt freshman in 2003
2003 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2003 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the 2003 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Hawaii finished the 2003 season with a 9-5 record, going 6-2 in WAC play. The Warriors made their second straight appearance in the Hawaii Bowl, facing off...
, he made his first career start at Left tackle. The final 13 starts of his redshirt freshman season were at Left guard, as he earned Second-team All-Conference
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
honors. As a sophomore
Sophomore
Sophomore is a term used in the United States to describe a student in the second year of study at high school or university.The word is also used as a synonym for "second", for the second album or EP released by a musician or group, the second movie of a director, or the second season of a...
in 2004
2004 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2004 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Hawaii finished the 2004 season with a 8-5 record, going 4-4 in WAC play. The Warriors made their third straight appearance in the Hawaii Bowl, facing off...
, he started all 13 games, including 10 at Left guard and three at Center. As a junior in 2005
2005 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2005 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the 2005 NCAA Division I-A college football season. Hawaii finished the 2005 season with a 5–7 record, going 4–4 in WAC play...
, he started all 12 games at Left guard and was named a First-team All-WAC selection. He helped Hawai'i rank second in the nation in passing offense (384.25 ypg) and 11th in total offense (476.17 ypg). As a senior in 2006
2006 Hawaii Warriors football team
The 2006 Hawaii Warriors football team represented the University of Hawaii at Manoa in the 2006 NCAA Division I-Bowl Subdivision college football season...
, he served as a team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
as a senior, while starting all 12 games at Center. He was a First-team All-WAC selection. He helped lead the offense that led the nation in total offense (559.21 ypg), passing offense (441.29 ypg) and scoring (46.86 ppg).
Satele started each of the 53 games in which he played during his college career, a streak that was the longest among active players in college football in 2006.
Miami Dolphins
Satele was selected in the second round (60th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft2007 NFL Draft
The 2007 National Football League Draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 28 and April 29, 2007. The draft was televised for the 28th consecutive year on ESPN and ESPN2. The NFL Network also broadcast coverage of the event, its second year doing so...
by the Miami Dolphins
Miami Dolphins
The Miami Dolphins are a Professional football team based in the Miami metropolitan area in Florida. The team is part of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. As a rookie in 2007, he started all four preseason games and all 16 regular season games at Center. He was selected to the all-rookie team by the Dallas Morning News, NFL.com's Gil Brandt and Pro Football Weekly/Pro Football Writers of America, among others. During the 2008 season, Satele again started all 16 games at center but also guard late in the season. In the 2009 offseason, the Dolphins signed free agent center Jake Grove
Jake Grove
Charles Jacob Grove is a retired American football center, most recently for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft...
, prompting speculation Satele could moved to right guard. Instead, the Dolphins traded him to the Oakland Raiders
Oakland Raiders
The Oakland Raiders are a professional American football team based in Oakland, California. They currently play in the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
on March 23, 2009 in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
and a swap of picks in the fourth round.
Oakland Raiders
In 2009, Satele replaced Grove as the 9th starting center in Raider history, playing in 12 games. Although Satele was demoted at the beginning of the 2010 season in favor of rookie Jared VeldheerJared Veldheer
Jared Veldheer is an American football offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League. He was drafted by the Raiders in the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft, after playing college football at Hillsdale....
, that lasted only one game. Satele got his job back the following week and started the rest of the season (15 games) for a team with their best won-lost record at 8-8 since winning the AFC championship game during the 2002 NFL season
2002 NFL season
The 2002 NFL season was the 83rd regular season of the National Football League.The league went back to an even number of teams, expanding to 32 teams with the addition of the Houston Texans. The clubs were then realigned into eight divisions, four teams in each...
, playing on a good offensive line between Robert Gallery
Robert Gallery
-Oakland Raiders:In 2004, he started 15 games at right tackle and gave up 3 sacks. In 2005, he started all 16 games at right tackle and gave up 3.5 sacks. The Raiders moved him to left tackle at the beginning of the 2006 preseason...
(12 games) at left guard and Cooper Carlisle
Cooper Carlisle
Cooper Morrison Carlisle is an American professional football player who is an offensive guard and offensive tackle in the National Football League...
(all 16 games) at right guard, helping Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
obtain 1,157 yards rushing and 5.2 yards per rush. On opening day 2011, Satele played between Carlisle and a new left guard, rookie Stefen Wisniewski
Stefen Wisniewski
Stefen David Wisniewski is an American football offensive lineman for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League, and was selected in the 2nd round of the 2011 NFL Draft.-Personal:...
, helping Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden
Darren McFadden is an American football running back who currently plays for the Oakland Raiders of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Arkansas from 2005 to 2007...
and others rush for 190 yards in a win against the Denver Broncos
Denver Broncos
The Denver Broncos are a professional American football team based in Denver, Colorado. They are currently members of the West Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
.
Personal
Satele is the nephew of former Hawaii Warriors and San Diego ChargersSan Diego Chargers
The San Diego Chargers are a professional American football team based in San Diego, California. they were members of the Western Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
Alvis Satele. He is a cousin of former Hawai'i teammate and guard Hercules Satele, who was signed by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
in 2008 and the Spokane Shock
Spokane Shock
The Spokane Shock is a professional arena football team of the Arena Football League from Spokane, Washington, USA. They play their home games at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena...
of the af2
Af2
AF2 was the name of the Arena Football League's developmental league; it was founded in 1999 and played its first season in 2000. Like parent AFL, the AF2 played using the same arena football rules and style of play. League seasons ran from April through July with the postseason and ArenaCup...
in 2009. He is also a distant cousin of Reagan Mauia
Reagan Mauia
Reagan Maui'a is an American football fullback who is currently a free agent. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the sixth round of the 2007 NFL Draft...
, who was also drafted by the Dolphins in the 2007 NFL Draft. He is also cousin of Isaac Leatiota, starting Offensive Guard for the WAC collegiate football team, the San Jose State Spartans
San José State Spartans Football
The San Jose State Spartans represent San Jose State University and the Silicon Valley in NCAA Division I FBS college football. The Spartans play all home games in Spartan Stadium, which offers a seating capacity of over 30,000...
.