Chris Kemoeatu
Encyclopedia
Uikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tonga
n professional American football
player who is currently a guard
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
of the National Football League
(NFL). He played college football
for the University of Utah
Utes
, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
. He is the younger brother of Ma'ake Kemoeatu
who is currently a Free agent
. Along with his brother and Deuce Lutui of the Arizona Cardinals
, he is one of several Tongans currently playing in the NFL.
. He is the younger brother of Ma'ake Kemoeatu
, who also played football for the University of Utah
and later enter the NFL. When Kemoeatu was three years old, the family moved to the U.S. state of Hawaii
.
Kemoeatu grew up in Kahuku, Hawaii, near Honolulu. He attended Kahuku High School
, where he played for the school's football team. He helped lead the school to their first state championship, and was named the 2000 Hawaii High School Defensive Player of the Year. Also selected first team all state and all league (OIA) as a defensive lineman. As a junior was selected honorable mention all state defensive lineman. Kemoeatu played on both sides of the ball in high school before playing offensive line at Utah.
, where he played for the Utah Utes football
team. Originally recruited as a defensive lineman, he was moved to offensive guard by coach Ron McBride
. In 2004, his senior year, Kemoeatu was named All-American
. He majored in Sociology.
in the sixth round (204th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft
. In his rookie season, he was inactive for 15 games and did not get any playing time. The following year he made his first two starts of his career. He played 16 games throughout the 2007 season. He began the 2008 Steelers training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but began practicing in the second week. Kemoeatu replaced seven time Pro Bowl
er Alan Faneca
on the Steelers' offensive line.
After the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII
, they re-signed Kemoeatu to a five-year contract.
and Tevita also attended Utah, playing defensive line. His younger brother, Benji, played guard for the West Virginia University
Mountaineers
. Ma'aka Kemoeatu currently plays for the Washington Redskins
.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who is currently a guard
Guard (American football)
In American and Canadian football, a guard is a player that lines up between the center and the tackles on the offensive line of a football team....
for the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
Utes
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. He is the younger brother of Ma'ake Kemoeatu
Ma'ake Kemoeatu
Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu is Tongan professional American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football for the University of Utah Utes....
who is currently a Free agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
. Along with his brother and Deuce Lutui of the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, he is one of several Tongans currently playing in the NFL.
Early life
Kemoeatu was born in the Pacific island nation of TongaTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. He is the younger brother of Ma'ake Kemoeatu
Ma'ake Kemoeatu
Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu is Tongan professional American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football for the University of Utah Utes....
, who also played football for the University of Utah
University of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
and later enter the NFL. When Kemoeatu was three years old, the family moved to the U.S. state of Hawaii
Hawaii
Hawaii is the newest of the 50 U.S. states , and is the only U.S. state made up entirely of islands. It is the northernmost island group in Polynesia, occupying most of an archipelago in the central Pacific Ocean, southwest of the continental United States, southeast of Japan, and northeast of...
.
Kemoeatu grew up in Kahuku, Hawaii, near Honolulu. He attended Kahuku High School
Kahuku High School
Kahuku High & Intermediate School, located in Kahuku CDP, City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii on the island of Oahu, serves approximately 1,850 students in grades seven through twelve and is part of the Windward District on the island of Oahu. It is a part of the Hawaii Department of Education...
, where he played for the school's football team. He helped lead the school to their first state championship, and was named the 2000 Hawaii High School Defensive Player of the Year. Also selected first team all state and all league (OIA) as a defensive lineman. As a junior was selected honorable mention all state defensive lineman. Kemoeatu played on both sides of the ball in high school before playing offensive line at Utah.
College career
Kemoeatu enrolled at the University of UtahUniversity of Utah
The University of Utah, also known as the U or the U of U, is a public, coeducational research university in Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. The university was established in 1850 as the University of Deseret by the General Assembly of the provisional State of Deseret, making it Utah's oldest...
, where he played for the Utah Utes football
Utah Utes football
The Utah Utes football program is a college football team that currently competes in the Pacific-12 Conference of the Football Bowl Subdivision of NCAA Division I and represents the University of Utah. The Utah college football program began in 1892 and has played home games at Rice–Eccles...
team. Originally recruited as a defensive lineman, he was moved to offensive guard by coach Ron McBride
Ron McBride
Ron McBride is the current head coach of Weber State University's football team. Coach "Mac" has over 40 years of coaching experience, including 13 years as head coach at the University of Utah....
. In 2004, his senior year, Kemoeatu was named All-American
2004 College Football All-America Team
The 2004 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
. He majored in Sociology.
Professional career
Kemoeatu was selected by the Pittsburgh SteelersPittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
in the sixth round (204th overall) in the 2005 NFL Draft
2005 NFL Draft
The 2005 NFL Draft was the procedure by which National Football League teams selected amateur college football players. It is officially known as the NFL Annual Player Selection Meeting. The draft was held April 23–24, 2005. The league also held an supplemental draft that year, which was held after...
. In his rookie season, he was inactive for 15 games and did not get any playing time. The following year he made his first two starts of his career. He played 16 games throughout the 2007 season. He began the 2008 Steelers training camp on the physically unable to perform list, but began practicing in the second week. Kemoeatu replaced seven time Pro Bowl
Pro Bowl
In professional American football, the Pro Bowl is the all-star game of the National Football League . Since the merger with the rival American Football League in 1970, it has been officially called the AFC–NFC Pro Bowl, matching the top players in the American Football Conference against those...
er Alan Faneca
Alan Faneca
Alan Joseph Faneca, Jr. is a former American football guard in the National Football League. He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers 26th overall in the 1998 NFL Draft and played college football for Louisiana State....
on the Steelers' offensive line.
After the Steelers won Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
, they re-signed Kemoeatu to a five-year contract.
Personal
Kemoeatu is the son of Manako Melino and Ahea Kolovetekina Kemoeatu, and has six siblings. His elder brothers Ma'akeMa'ake Kemoeatu
Ma'ake Tu'amelie Kemoeatu is Tongan professional American football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He was signed by the Baltimore Ravens as an undrafted free agent in 2002. He played college football for the University of Utah Utes....
and Tevita also attended Utah, playing defensive line. His younger brother, Benji, played guard for the West Virginia University
West Virginia University
West Virginia University is a public research university in Morgantown, West Virginia, USA. Other campuses include: West Virginia University at Parkersburg in Parkersburg; West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Montgomery; Potomac State College of West Virginia University in Keyser;...
Mountaineers
West Virginia Mountaineers football
The West Virginia Mountaineers football team represents West Virginia University in the NCAA FBS division of college football. Dana Holgorsen is the team's 33rd head coach. He has held the position since he was promoted in June 2011 after the resignation of Bill Stewart. The Mountaineers play their...
. Ma'aka Kemoeatu currently plays for the Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins
The Washington Redskins are a professional American football team and members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The team plays at FedExField in Landover, Maryland, while its headquarters and training facility are at Redskin Park in Ashburn,...
.