Twitter: @benjipalu | @calfootball
Instagram: big_benj70 | cal_football
Pronunciation
paw-lu
Palu played in his lone game at Cal off the bench in the team's 2016 finale against UCLA after redshirting and not playing as a 2015 junior. Palu had a highly decorated high school career but failed to catch the attention of collegiate recruiters before blossoming when he moved from guard in high school to center at the College of San Mateo during his two seasons at the school as a 2013 freshman and 2014 sophomore. In his second campaign he was named first-team All-State, All-Region, All-Bay 6 League and the team’s Most Inspirational Player of the Year for a squad that was 9-2 overall and defeated Laney in the Bulldog Bowl. Palu anchored an offensive line that was ranked first in the state in rushing during his freshman campaign and second as a sophomore.
Cal Career (2015 – Present)
• Played one game off the bench during his Cal career in the 2016 season finale against UCLA
• Changed his uniform to No. 70 for the 2016 season after wearing No. 51 for his first campaign with the program in 2015
Junior (2016)
• Played one game off the bench in the season finale against UCLA
• Played in the spring game but did not record any statistics
Junior (2015)
• Redshirted
• Did not play
College of San Mateo (2013-14)
• Earned first-team All-State, All-Region, All-Bay 6 League and the team’s Most Inspirational Player of the Year honors as center after playing guard as a prep during his 2014 sophomore season for a squad that was 9-2 overall and defeated Laney in the Bulldog Bowl
• Sophomore team ranked second in the state with an average of 252.7 rushing yards per game and rushing touchdowns with 37, fourth in red zone scores with 48, sixth in red zone touchdowns with 40, and ninth in scoring with an average of 39.5 points per contest
• Played as a 2013 freshman for a team that won the Bothman Bulldog Bowl and posted a 10-1 record with its lone loss to state champion and unbeaten Butte College while leading the state with an average of 349.5 rushing yards per game, ranking second with 42 rushing touchdowns, and eighth with averages of 39.8 points and 464.5 total yards per game
Burlingame HS (Class of 2013)
• An All-State, All-Mercury News and All-Peninsula League offensive guard who was also his team’s MVP as a 2013 senior, as well as a three-time All-Peninsula League choice in his 2011 sophomore and 2012 junior seasons in addition to his senior campaign
• Played in several All-Star bowl games after his senior season including the Polynesian All-American Bowl, NUC All-American Bowl and Warrior Bowl
• Also selected as a Polynesian All-American Showcase Top 5 Lineman and All-Northern California Offensive Lineman while earning a USA-U19 National Team invite as a senior
• Team reached the first round of the Central Coast Section playoffs during each of his final three campaigns while his freshman squad was 7-4 overall but did not make the postseason
• Earned San Mateo Times All-County, All-Daily Journal and All-Peninsula League honors as well as his team’s Most Inspirational Player selection as a junior
• MaxPreps Team No. 1 top player selection during both his junior and senior campaigns
• Started all 10 games on both sides of the ball as an offensive guard and defensive tackle as a 2011 sophomore when he was named first-team All-Peninsula League and his team’s Lineman of the Year
• Selected by his teammates as a team captain during each of the final three of his four varsity seasons of football
• Wore No. 54
Recruiting Notes (Class of 2013)
• On the AIGA 2013 All-American Watchlist and named to the preseason All-Central Coast Section team by Sport Stars prior to his 2013 senior prep campaign
Other
• Full name is Fietonga Penisini Palu
• Born February 23, 1995
• Parents are Moses and Jacquie Liongitau
• Major is legal studies
Last Updated
November 29, 2016
