Oakland Raiders’ seventh-round rookie safety Shalom Luani had an excellent first game for the Silver and Black against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday night in the preseason. Luani registered six tackles, five solo, defended one pass and recovered a fumble. The former Washington State Cougars’ defensive back played with his head on a swivel in his impressive first game.
Luani’s path to the NFL is a different one to say the least. He grew up as a two-sport star in American Samoa, playing football and soccer. While he is known in Raider Nation as that promising ball-hawking safety out of Wazzu, back home Luani is an association football legend.