Benji Palu loved playing football as a youngster, dating back to his pre-teen years with the San Bruno-based West Bay Rams.
But Pop Warner teams have weight limits and Palu missed a few seasons because he didn’t make weight. That’s not a problem for the Burlingame High and College of San Mateo product any more, as he just committed to play football at Cal.
Palu isn’t getting an athletic scholarship, but he’ll be a preferred walk-on and will have his entire tuition paid for by grants, he said.
Ironically, despite his issues with the scale as a youngster, it’s the regimen of football he cherishes now.
“Each day you set out knowing what you’re doing,” Palu said. “You eat breakfast and then lift weights and have meetings and study sessions and then practice. I like the brotherhood aspect of it, too -- both on and off the field.”
Palu is Tongan and grew up on a diet rich with meat, fish, taro and the like. He also loves Double-Double cheeseburgers from In ‘N’ Out and can put one down as easily as an over-matched defender. But you don’t get to Cal by carbo-loading 24x7 and Palu is disciplined now, standing 5-11½, weighing a sturdy 280 pounds and boasting bulging muscles and a menacing look.
“I’ve gone up and down over the years, but it’s something I look out for,” Palu said. “At CSM it matters. There’s a weight limit and you have to maintain it.”
That’s how Palu made first-team all-conference, all-state and was named the most inspirational offensive player for the Bulldogs. As a prep he was also a standout, earning all-league his final three years and all-state his senior year, as well as earning offensive lineman of the year in the PAL-Bay.
Video of No. 54 Palu reveals a wrecking ball of a lineman not only flattening would-be tacklers, but doing so violently -- like a windshield hitting an insect. You can almost hear the "Oooh" from the fans after each smack.
Palu comes from good athletic stock. His brother Manase plays at CSM and another brother, Barry, competes at Burlingame. His uncle, T.C. Wolfgramm played at Burlingame and at Fresno State when Aptos grad and Super Bowl-winning quarterback Trent Dilfer was the Fresno State QB.
Palu at Cal plans to study psychology. He’d like to play pro ball some day and hopes to coach when his playing days are over.
Meantime, the San Mateo resident loves big, Polynesian family get-togethers which typically involve music, games, sports and food.
Regarding the latter, Palu stays disciplined because he won’t let weight sideline him again.
