Post by Funkytown on Jan 5, 2023 18:49:57 GMT -6
Purple Insider: Khyiris Tonga is on a mission by Matthew Coller
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Link:
purpleinsider.substack.com/p/khyiris-tonga-is-on-a-mission
As a high school senior, Khyiris Tonga found himself at a crossroads. He was on house arrest. He wasn’t allowed to play football or travel to away games to support his teammates. He was on a road to nowhere.
At that point Tonga made a decision to go on a Mormon mission that would change his perspective on life and shape his path to the NFL, where he’s become a quietly important piece of the Minnesota Vikings’ drive to the playoffs.
Growing up in West Valley, Utah, Tonga was the child of a single mother who struggled with poverty. When she got evicted and they didn’t have anywhere to go, he found refuge at friends’ houses. That was his normal.
Amidst the uncertainty, he was making noise as a football player. Khyiris was All-Region First-Team as a freshman playing tight end and rushing the passer. He received a three-star grade by ESPN and had a number of D-1 offers, including from the University of Utah.
But the instability of his upbringing was taking its toll.
“At the time, I was always messing something up,” Khyiris said in a sit-down at TCO Performance Center. “Something would be good and then I’d get it taken away. That’s what happened my senior year.”
Along the way he found a permanent place to stay with his best friend’s family. He was invited to stay for a night and then a week and eventually George and Siu Tonga’s home became his own. The Tongas gave him stability and taught him about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Midway through his senior year they officially adopted him.
“That was the first time in my life where it felt like home,” Khyiris said. “I was part of a family. Growing up I never had a dad, I never met my dad. In and out of my mom’s house, getting into trouble, I never had a home home. When all that happened, it felt really good and I had peace in my life.”
“My [adopted] parents gave me hope,” he said.
At that point Tonga made a decision to go on a Mormon mission that would change his perspective on life and shape his path to the NFL, where he’s become a quietly important piece of the Minnesota Vikings’ drive to the playoffs.
Growing up in West Valley, Utah, Tonga was the child of a single mother who struggled with poverty. When she got evicted and they didn’t have anywhere to go, he found refuge at friends’ houses. That was his normal.
Amidst the uncertainty, he was making noise as a football player. Khyiris was All-Region First-Team as a freshman playing tight end and rushing the passer. He received a three-star grade by ESPN and had a number of D-1 offers, including from the University of Utah.
But the instability of his upbringing was taking its toll.
“At the time, I was always messing something up,” Khyiris said in a sit-down at TCO Performance Center. “Something would be good and then I’d get it taken away. That’s what happened my senior year.”
Along the way he found a permanent place to stay with his best friend’s family. He was invited to stay for a night and then a week and eventually George and Siu Tonga’s home became his own. The Tongas gave him stability and taught him about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Midway through his senior year they officially adopted him.
“That was the first time in my life where it felt like home,” Khyiris said. “I was part of a family. Growing up I never had a dad, I never met my dad. In and out of my mom’s house, getting into trouble, I never had a home home. When all that happened, it felt really good and I had peace in my life.”
“My [adopted] parents gave me hope,” he said.
Tonga became an instant contributor as a freshman and starred for BYU in the middle of their defensive line for four years. Sitake created offensive packages for Khyiris to play fullback and he even scored a three-yard touchdown in 2019.
“All it takes is belief in the young man and he’ll flourish,” Sitake said. “We have a great connection and I’m so proud of him. Not just the football part. I’m so proud of the person he is and the ability to overcome obstacles and adversity.”
In 2021, Khyiris was drafted by the Chicago Bears and played 217 snaps for them as a rookie.
When the Bears changed defensive schemes under new coach Matt Eberflus, they moved on from Tonga. Former Bears star DT Akiem Hicks tweeted that Chicago was making a mistake. Tonga signed on with the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad and then in early October, the Vikings signed him away from the Falcons and he first appeared in Week 8 against Arizona.
The Vikings’ staff quickly took notice of his strength and ability to stuff the middle and add a little pass rushing juice as well. The next week he was on the field for 21 snaps against the Commanders.
“The Vikings believed in him and watch out,” Sitake said. “All that guy needs is belief. When you trust him and show faith in him, he’ll take off. It’s already working.”
He put together a seven-week stretch of grading positively by PFF and a four-week run of creating at least on QB pressure. Tonga has now been on the field for at least 25 snaps each of the last five games.
“I just think he plays with a level of physicality in the run game—that knockback that you look for,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “It shows up on tape. You consistently see him splitting double teams, you consistently see him getting push into people’s run games that allows E.K. (Eric Kendricks) and Jordan [Hicks] and Brian [Asamoah II] to go run and try to make tackles.”
O’Connell added that Tonga has shown an ability to transition from his run-stuffing role to rushing the passer effectively, which can be a challenge for nose tackles.
Tonga credits veteran Dalvin Tomlinson as a role model for his style of play.
“Tonga is a great young guy,” Tomlinson said. “He came in ready to work as soon as he got here and picked up the playbook well. He was super quiet at first. He’s good people. Love to see his growth. As an older guy, you love to see younger guys come in and contribute to the team and grow the way he does. You’re always proud.”
One of the mistakes young players make in the NFL is growing impatient and getting frustrated if things aren’t working out right away. Tonga looks back at his upbringing and mission as experiences that helped him handle the uncertainty of the pros.
“I think it’s really tough and you need to just keep the faith in what you’re doing,” he said. “It’s something I’ve learned in Year 2 is, don’t expect the outcome to be the outcome you want right away.”
“The hardest thing is to develop in the NFL because you have to produce now,” Tomlinson said. “Just to see over the course of the last few games to see him getting more and more comfortable with the scheme and with everyone out there with him out there, it’s crazy man.”
Now Tonga will be a difference maker on the Vikings’ defensive line as they head into the postseason. Sitake and the family that helped send his life on a positive path during his most difficult times will be watching.
“My family… it’s so hard to explain how to put into words how I feel about that,” Khyiris said. “I’m so grateful for this life and everything that’s happened until this moment. That’s all I can be is just grateful.”
“All it takes is belief in the young man and he’ll flourish,” Sitake said. “We have a great connection and I’m so proud of him. Not just the football part. I’m so proud of the person he is and the ability to overcome obstacles and adversity.”
In 2021, Khyiris was drafted by the Chicago Bears and played 217 snaps for them as a rookie.
When the Bears changed defensive schemes under new coach Matt Eberflus, they moved on from Tonga. Former Bears star DT Akiem Hicks tweeted that Chicago was making a mistake. Tonga signed on with the Atlanta Falcons’ practice squad and then in early October, the Vikings signed him away from the Falcons and he first appeared in Week 8 against Arizona.
The Vikings’ staff quickly took notice of his strength and ability to stuff the middle and add a little pass rushing juice as well. The next week he was on the field for 21 snaps against the Commanders.
“The Vikings believed in him and watch out,” Sitake said. “All that guy needs is belief. When you trust him and show faith in him, he’ll take off. It’s already working.”
He put together a seven-week stretch of grading positively by PFF and a four-week run of creating at least on QB pressure. Tonga has now been on the field for at least 25 snaps each of the last five games.
“I just think he plays with a level of physicality in the run game—that knockback that you look for,” Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell said. “It shows up on tape. You consistently see him splitting double teams, you consistently see him getting push into people’s run games that allows E.K. (Eric Kendricks) and Jordan [Hicks] and Brian [Asamoah II] to go run and try to make tackles.”
O’Connell added that Tonga has shown an ability to transition from his run-stuffing role to rushing the passer effectively, which can be a challenge for nose tackles.
Tonga credits veteran Dalvin Tomlinson as a role model for his style of play.
“Tonga is a great young guy,” Tomlinson said. “He came in ready to work as soon as he got here and picked up the playbook well. He was super quiet at first. He’s good people. Love to see his growth. As an older guy, you love to see younger guys come in and contribute to the team and grow the way he does. You’re always proud.”
One of the mistakes young players make in the NFL is growing impatient and getting frustrated if things aren’t working out right away. Tonga looks back at his upbringing and mission as experiences that helped him handle the uncertainty of the pros.
“I think it’s really tough and you need to just keep the faith in what you’re doing,” he said. “It’s something I’ve learned in Year 2 is, don’t expect the outcome to be the outcome you want right away.”
“The hardest thing is to develop in the NFL because you have to produce now,” Tomlinson said. “Just to see over the course of the last few games to see him getting more and more comfortable with the scheme and with everyone out there with him out there, it’s crazy man.”
Now Tonga will be a difference maker on the Vikings’ defensive line as they head into the postseason. Sitake and the family that helped send his life on a positive path during his most difficult times will be watching.
“My family… it’s so hard to explain how to put into words how I feel about that,” Khyiris said. “I’m so grateful for this life and everything that’s happened until this moment. That’s all I can be is just grateful.”
purpleinsider.substack.com/p/khyiris-tonga-is-on-a-mission
... and neither is this Chris guy.