Vitale Ta'aga Magauli "Vic" So'oto[1] (born August 19, 1987) is a former American football linebacker.He is the special teams coordinator and outside linebackers coach for California. He was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Green Bay Packers in 2011. He played college football at Brigham Young University (BYU).
California Golden Bears | |||||
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Position: | Special teams coordinator Outside linebackers coach | ||||
Personal information | |||||
Born: | Oceanside, California, U.S. | August 19, 1987||||
Height: | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||
Weight: | 263 lb (119 kg) | ||||
Career information | |||||
High school: | Carlsbad (Carlsbad, California) | ||||
College: | BYU | ||||
Undrafted: | 2011 | ||||
Career history | |||||
As a player: | |||||
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* Offseason and/or practice squad member only | |||||
As a coach: | |||||
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Career highlights and awards | |||||
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Career NFL statistics | |||||
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Player stats at PFR |
He was also a member of the Oakland Raiders, Arizona Cardinals, New Orleans Saints, Washington Redskins, and Pittsburgh Steelers.
Early years
editSo'oto attended Carlsbad High School and won three varsity letters in football and also lettered in volleyball. In football, as a senior, he was named First-team All-CIF honors and team MVP.
College career
editAs a linebacker for BYU, So'oto finished the 2010 season with 45 tackles, (18 solo), and 5 quarterback sacks. As a senior, he was a First-team All-Mountain West Conference selection. During his career at BYU, So'oto also played at the tight end and defensive end positions. He missed the majority of the 2006 and 2008 seasons with injuries.
Playing career
editGreen Bay Packers
editOn July 26, 2011, the Green Bay Packers announced they had signed So'oto as an undrafted free agent. During the pre-season, So'oto suffered a back injury and was inactive for most of the regular season but made his professional debut on special teams against the Denver Broncos in week 4. So'oto was released by the Packers on September 10, 2012.
Oakland Raiders
editOn September 25, 2012, the Oakland Raiders announced they had signed So'oto.[2] He played a total of four games for the Raiders during the 2012 season before being waived by the Raiders on November 6.[3]
Return to the Packers
editThe Packers re-signed So'oto to their 53-man roster on November 12, 2012.[4] On December 11, the Packers released him and signed So'oto to their practice squad after clearing waivers two days later.[5]
Washington Redskins
editOn December 19, the Washington Redskins signed So'oto from the Green Bay Packers' practice squad.[6][7]
The Redskins waived him on August 31, 2013, for final roster cuts before the start of 2013 season.[8]
Arizona Cardinals
editHe was signed by the Arizona Cardinals on September 24, 2013, but released after just one game with a chest injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers
editSo'oto signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers during the 2014 offseason, but was released on August 25, 2014.[9]
Coaching career
editBeginning in 2016 So'oto served as a defensive graduate assistant at the University of Virginia under his college coach Bronco Mendenhall. On June 21, 2017, So'oto was added a full-time member of the coaching staff after Ruffin McNeill left for the University of Oklahoma.[10]
In 2022 he became a part of the Colorado Buffaloes staff, however he left to coach for California before ever coaching a game.
References
edit- ^ Teasdale, Richard. "CougarBlue Profiles: Vic So'oto". Retrieved September 5, 2011.
- ^ "Raiders Sign Linebacker Vic So'oto". Raiders.com. September 25, 2012.
- ^ "Raiders add LB Aaron Curry to their active roster". CBS Sports. Retrieved November 12, 2012.
- ^ "Packers place Bryan Bulaga on IR". Associated Press. Retrieved September 12, 2012.
- ^ "LB So'oto rejoins Packers 2 days after release". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved December 13, 2012.
- ^ Tinsman, Brian (December 19, 2012). "Redskins Sign So'oto, Shuffle Practice Squad". Redskins.com. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Mike (December 19, 2012). "Redskins add LB Vic So'oto to roster, G Pat Boyle to practice squad". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
- ^ Jones, Mike (August 31, 2013). "Redskins cuts: Tony Pashos, DeJon Gomes, Chase Minnifield among them". WashingtonPost.com. Retrieved August 31, 2013.
- ^ Steelers trim roster to 81 players
- ^ "Mendenhall Elevates Vic So'oto to Defensive Line Coach". University of Virginia. Retrieved June 21, 2017.