TRACKING THE GRADS: District football players excelling in college

Federal Way High School graduate D.J. May had a very impressive freshman season at the University of Wyoming.

Federal Way High School graduate D.J. May had a very impressive freshman season at the University of Wyoming.

The 5-foot-11, 196-pound running back played in 11 games last season for the Cowboys and led the team in rushing. May, as a true freshman, ran for 374 yards and averaged nearly five yards per carry.

Things were only going to get better for May and the Cowboys this season. But his sophomore year will have to wait until 2014. During the summer, May tore his left pectoral muscle while lifting weights, forcing him to sit out the entire season.

May is currently red-shirting for Wyoming, who are 3-1 on the season with wins over Idaho, Northern Colorado and Air Force. The Cowboys’ only loss came to Nebraska, 37-34, in Lincoln.

“It sucks. It’s always going to suck, but you can’t keep thinking like that. You still got to get better somehow,” May told the Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune. “So I have to work on my legs, get in the film room and help the new guys. That’s really my role now.”

As a senior at Federal Way in 2011, May rushed for 1,320 yards on 139 attempts, scored 18 rushing touchdowns, one receiving TD and returned two interceptions for touchdowns. He also caught 13 passes for 140 yards.

Other district football players in college:

Jonny Volland — The Jefferson grad is playing his senior season at Pacific Lutheran. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound defensive back has one interception this season and has four tackles for the Lutes. Pacific Lutheran is 2-0 on the season.

Last year, he finished with 24 tackles while starting six of the team’s nine games. Volland also had four interceptions.

Andre Barrington — The Federal Way grad is currently playing at Virginia University-Lynchburg. Barrington, who started his football career at Washington State, is a sophomore linebacker. Virginia University-Lynchburg is currently 0-3 on the season. Barrington had five tackles during a loss to Winston-Salem State University two weeks ago, including two for losses.

Albert Havili — The Federal Way graduate is getting playing time at linebacker as a true freshman at Eastern Washington. The 6-2, 240-pounder has played in all three of Eastern’s games this season and had 13 total tackles for the Eagles during a 33-21 loss to Toledo on Sept. 14. He also had four tackles during Eastern’s upset win over then-No. 25-ranked Oregon State on Aug. 31.

Andru Pulu — The Federal Way grad is playing his senior season at Eastern Washington after transferring from the University of Washington. The 6-foot-2, 290-pound defensive tackle is ranked No. 16 among all FCS defensive tackles by Phil Steele’s FCS College Football Preview in the preseason. This year, Pulu has three tackles in three games.

Last season, Pulu played in 13 games and had 36 tackles, including four for a loss. As a true freshman at Washington, Pulu was a regular in the rotation at defensive end and also a regular on the kick return team. He played in all 12 games and finished with two tackles.

Jordan Pulu — The Federal Way grad is playing his sophomore season at Eastern Washington. He was the only true freshman last year to play during the 2012 season and finished with four tackles. The 6-foot-2, 260-pound defensive lineman is listed as a reserve at defensive tackle for the Eagles this season. Pulu was a first-team, All-State selection as a senior at Federal Way.

Faauiga Taala — The Federal Way grad is playing at Eastern Oregon University as a redshirt freshman. The 5-9, 240-pounder is a defensive lineman. This year he has four tackles.

Kevin Young — The Decatur grad is playing his freshman season at Central Washington as a defensive back. Central is 1-2 on the year.

Mikhail Vlasenko — The Jefferson grad is playing his junior season at Pacific Lutheran. The 6-foot-1, 270-pounder is an offensive lineman.

D’Londo Tucker — The Federal Way grad is playing his true freshman season at Eastern Washington. The defensive back had a pass breakup during a 43-14 win over Western Oregon on Sept. 7.

Michael Tate — The Federal Way graduate is playing his freshman season at San Jose State University. Tate is a 6-1, 170-pound wide receiver. Tate hasn’t caught a pass yet this season for the Spartans. Tate had eight touchdowns for Federal Way last season.

Zeek McNeal — The Federal Way grad is playing defensive back at Idaho State. McNeal was a first-team All-SPSL running back last season at Federal Way and set the school record in the 100 and 200 meters, along with the 4×100 and 4×400 relays in track.

K.W. Williams — The Jefferson grad is playing his redshirt freshman season at Idaho State. The 6-foot-1, 210-pounder is playing linebacker for the Bengals. Williams was a first-team, All-SPSL quarterback and defensive back and also won the 2012 state wrestling championship at TJ.

Alex Bykovskiy — The Decatur grad is on the roster of the Arizona State Sun Devil football team as a redshirt sophomore tight end. The 6-foot-1, 225-pound Bykovskiy was the quarterback of the Gators during his senior year in 2010 before heading to Tempe.

Uso Olive — The 2012 Federal Way grad is playing his redshirt freshman season at the University of Wyoming. The 6-foot-1, 293-pound defensive tackle has played in four games this season for the Cowboys and has 13 total tackles, including 2.5 for losses.

Wyoming is currently 3-1 overall with wins over Idaho, Northern Colorado and Air Force. The Cowboys lost 37-34 to Nebraska in Lincoln.

Jordan Wernet — The Decatur grad is playing his redshirt freshman season at Azusa Pacific in California. The 6-foot-4, 286-pounder is playing offensive line for the Tigers. He redshirted last season for the Tigers.

Nicky Fualaau — The Beamer graduate is playing his redshirt sophomore season at Liberty University in Virginia. Fualaau is a 6-foot, 220-pound fullback for the Flames. Last season, he started six games and was one of three Liberty p layers with a receiving and rushing touchdown. This season, he has two catches for 27 yards. Liberty is 2-2 on the season.

James Seuma’ala — The Federal Way grad is playing his junior season at Portland State. The 6-foot-3, 260-pounder plays on the offensive line. Last year, he played in three games as a backup. As a freshman, Seuma’ala played in two games as a backup defensive lineman and had two tackles.

T.J. Esekielu — The Beamer grad is playing his junior season at Eastern Oregon as a quarterback. Esekielu has played in all four games this season and is 12 for 18 passing for 132 yards and has rushed the ball 16 times for 64 yards and three touchdowns. Eastern Oregon is 0-4 on the season.

Rian Miller — The Federal Way grad is playing his junior season at Eastern Oregon University. The 5-foot-4, 150-pound wide receiver has caught four passes this season.