Another ‘homegrown’ product is making waves on the gridiron on the mainland. Sixteen-year-old Travis Sailo, from the village of Nu’uuuli is currently playing football in the state of Alabama for Sipsey Valley High School where he is in his junior year. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing in at 240lbs, according to reports, he is making some colleges sit up and take notice.

According to the online Alabama sports news, www.al.com, Sailo looks physically ready to play at the college level today. It stated that, even though he is mostly unknown in Alabama at this time, there is one South Eastern Conference (SEC) school that has already offered him a scholarship.

According to the article, Mississippi State University defensive coordinator Geoff Collins saw something he liked in Sailo and made him an offer this past spring. Collins and the rest of the Mississippi State staff have been very good in the past on identifying Alabama recruits early in the evaluation process and according to the article, the MSU offer caught Sailo off-guard.

Sailo is excited about the possibility of playing in the SEC, but said he did not know whether he wanted to play college football in the South or head to the West Coast to be closer to home. One thing for certain, the article stated, “he is going to have options.”

In addition to playing defense, he also plays on the offensive side, where he has lined up at fullback and tight end.

Born here in American Samoa to Aumoana and Sigalo Sailo of Nu’uuli, he is the youngest of six siblings. When Travis was only fourteen, his father passed away and that is when he got into playing football to stay out of trouble and keep his mind occupied, according to his aunt Teresa Lavatai, who contacted Samoa News via social medial.  He now lives with his Aunt Teresa and uncle Faima Lavatai.

In 2012 while still here in American Samoa, he played in the American Youth Football Samoa (AYFS) league, where he made the All-Star team that played in Hawaii that year. At that time he decided to stay in Hawaii with his aunty and soon after, they moved to Alabama.

“In October of 2012, he packed his bags again and moved to Alabama on a journey he did not know where it would take him,” said his Aunty Teresa. “He plays football in memory of his father and to make his mother proud of him and now two years later, he is doing good in school, playing football, making new friends and making great memories,” she said.

She stated that he has adapted and adjusted on the field. They call him ‘Big Maui’ due to the fact that before moving in Alabama he lived in Hawaii.

Travis told Samoa New via email, “First and foremost I would like to give a shout out to the Lord Almighty for all of his wonderful blessings and to my mom and say thank you for all of the support and guidance you have given me,” he said.

“I want to give a shout out to all of my siblings back home and to the rest of the family as well. I love and miss you all,” he said. He also said that he wanted to thank his brother Aumoana Sailo Jr. who just returned from Afghanistan for his support and service.

“To my dad who is flying with angels, looking down on me, I hope that I am making you proud. I love and miss you with all of my heart. Every touchdown I make is for you,” he said.

Samoa News will keep following Sailo as he makes his way closer and closer to the college ranks on the gridiron.