Lakes football’s ‘Swiss Army Knife’ Pulalasi can do everything. Pac-12 schools taking notice
There’s nothing Lakes High School senior Leo Pulalasi can’t do on the football field.
He plays running back and wide receiver for the offense, has played quarterback when called on, plays linebacker on defense and some safety. And oh, he’s the team’s punter, too.
How’s that for versatile?
“He’s like a Swiss Army Knife,” Lakes coach Dave Miller said. “He can do it all.”
He plays Lakes’ version of an H-back — he lines up as a running back, will take direct snaps in the Wildcat formation, lines up in the slot as a receiver and pass blocks, too.
“They’re in the slot a lot, in the backfield a lot,” Miller said of the position. “That guy has to be a running back and a receiver. When we see a freshman come in that can do a lot of different things, that’s kind of the position we matriculate him to.”
Pulalasi’s cousin, 2022 Lakes graduate Devon Nofoa-Masoe, played a similar role in the Lancers offense, effective in his first two high school seasons before his career was derailed by knee injuries in his junior and senior seasons.
“That’s actually what inspired me to play how I play now,” Pulalasi said. “I grew up playing with him. He just inspired me a lot. … I just plan on playing wherever coach needs me. Right now, it seems like everyone is sort of focused on me, so it opens up a lot of space for everyone else, like our running back Ki’Marree (Washington).”
The positional versatility requires a good understanding of the game and what Pulalasi needs to be doing on any given play or package.
“(It requires) a lot of savvy,” Miller said. “That kind of comes from his upbringing with his dad and the youth coaches that have worked with him. When he came in, he had a really high football IQ. He also has a really good ability that a lot of kids don’t have: When you tell him something, he’s got it once. You don’t have to tell him three or four times. He picks stuff up really quick.”
Through four games, Pulalasi has 202 rushing yards and seven touchdowns, as well as 235 receiving yards and four touchdowns for the Lancers.
Colleges are taking notice, too. Pulalasi verbally committed to BYU during the offseason, his best offer at the time. This month, he picked up two Pac-12 offers from Washington State and Oregon State.
Pulalasi is keeping it close to the vest, saying he’s still solid to BYU for now and will talk with his family about the new offers.
“Those are really great opportunities,” he said. “Right now, I’m just focused on this season and will see what decision I make later on. … If I get a chance to explore, I will, probably.”
It doesn’t hurt to have options and BYU will have its hands full fighting off the new Pac-12 offers, said 247sports.com National Recruiting Editor Brandon Huffman.
“I think he’s long dreamed of playing in the Pac-12,” Huffman said. “BYU was his best offer. He wisely committed. BYU’s a good program. With (Lakes teammate) David Wells committed to Oregon State, with the way Oregon State has used (Camas graduate) Jack Colletto as a Swiss Army Knife, he could be the perfect candidate to be a Jack Colletto replacement.”
In an era of specialization, Pulalasi’s positional versatility makes him a bit of a throwback.
“He might be my favorite football player in the state of Washington,” Huffman said. “That doesn’t mean he’s the best, or the biggest recruit, but he might be my favorite player to watch. His willingness to do whatever he’s asked. … He does everything with a smile on his face. Loves contact, loves to hit, loves to be hit.”
The one knock on Pulalasi as a next-level running back prospect is his straight-line speed. He’s not a blazer, but Miller doesn’t think that shows up on the football field.
“I think people get so enamored with that blazing speed in football, but there’s so much more to it,” Miller said. “He has football speed. People don’t catch him on the football field. … He’s so strong, hard to tackle, he can put a foot in the ground and change direction like little guys. He’s almost 220 now. He’s a big guy. He catches the ball so well out of the backfield. He’s big enough that he can pass protect really well.”
Huffman originally thought Pulalasi would play linebacker in college, but he’s come around to him playing running back.
“The more I watched him this offseason and in camps, I would use him as a running back,” Huffman said. “That flex, versatile, all-purpose back. … He’s never gonna be a speedster guy, but he just runs so hard after contact. I see him being a thunder back in a thunder-lightning backfield. The more I watch him, put the ball in his hands.”
