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RANKINGS: Listed as the No. 20 inside linebacker in the country and the No. 13 prospect in Virginia by Rivals … Rated the No. 24 prospect in Virginia by The Roanoke Times … Ranked as the No. 23 player in Virginia in SuperPrep’s preseason issue … Ranked as the No. 94 outside linebacker in the country and the No. 36 player in his state by 247Sports … Listed as the No. 24 middle linebacker in the country by Scout … Ranked as the No. 24 outside linebacker in the country, the No. 48 player in his region and the No. 15 player in the state by ESPN Recruiting Nation.

THE VITALS: Pronounced MO-too-uh-poo-WAH-kuh … Committed to the Hokies on April 21, 2012 … Selected to play in the Chesapeake Bowl … A second-team Group AAA all-state selection by Virginia Preps … A first-team All-Tidewater selection by The Virginian Pilot as a senior after posting 115 tackles, including 21 tackles for loss and eight sacks … Also had three interceptions and five forced fumbles …  A first-team All-Eastern Region selection at linebacker … A first-team All-Beach District selection at linebacker … First-team All-757 … A two-time All-Tidewater selection … Had 97 tackles and three interceptions his junior year … Recruited by Bryan Stinespring.

PERSONAL: Born 6/29/95 in Auckland, New Zealand … Son of Siaosi and Manu Motua’puaka, who are from Tonga and went to school in New Zealand … Has a younger brother and younger sister … Family migrated to the U.S. and his father joined the U.S. Army … Contemplated major is mechanical engineering.

WHY HE CHOSE TECH: “Virginia Tech was the first to offer (a scholarship) and the first school I fell in love with. When I saw the campus and the facilities there, I fell in love with the place and thought it was the right place for me.”