Former Oregon WR Lavasier Tuinei Finds New Home with CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers
Jan 2, 2012; Pasadena, CA, USA; Oregon Ducks receiver Lavasier Tuinei (80) celebrates with quarterback Darron Thomas (5) after scoring on an 11-yard touchdown pass against the Wisconsin Badgers in the 2012 Rose Bowl game at the Rose Bowl. Oregon defeated Wisconsin 45-38. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Image of Sport-US PRESSWIRE
Lavasier Tuinei was a wide receiver for the Oregon Ducks from 2009-2012 where he logged 108 receptions for 1212 yards and 12 touchdowns. He was progressively more effective year-over-year at Oregon, and was instrumental in the Ducks’ 2012 Rose Bowl victory over the Wisconsin Badgers.
The son of former University of Arizona defensive end Van Tuinei, a 1997 undrafted free agent who went on to play four seasons in the National Football League for the San Diego Chargers, Indianapolis Colts and Chicago Bears, Lavasier is no stranger to being a journeyman.
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After leaving Oregon,
Lavasier Tuinei went on to play for the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks
in 2012 after being picked up as an undrafted free agent, but was hampered by injury. He then bounced between the Cincinnati Bengals and Dallas Cowboys before being picked up by the New England Patriots in 2013. Injuries significantly limited his availability once again, and in 2014 he signed with the Canadian Football League’s (Vancouver) BC Lions, where former Oregon linebacker Boseko Lokombo currently plays.
Though injuries plagued his NFL stints, Patriots Head Coach Bill Belichick knows what type of players can be successful in the league, and that leads many to believe that Tuinei would have had an opportunity to play had he stayed healthy.
Tuinei has once again moved on, this time to the CFL’s Winnipeg Blue Bombers. At age 24, he is approaching the typical prime of a pro playing career. “He’s healthy and excited to go,” says a source close to the family. Indeed, he should be. Tuinei will depart for Winnipeg on May 26th.
Fully healthy for the first time in three years, and as ready to go as he’s been since perhaps the morning of the 2012 Rose Bowl game, look for Lavasier Tuinei to quickly show everyone what he’s capable of. His lengthy frame matches up exceptionally well against the taller cornerbacks of today’s game.
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Tuinei’s mother, Jane, a fixture at his games while at Oregon, has just opened her first hair studio business. Despite that, she and husband Van are a likely odds favorite to make the trip and attend Lavasier’s games in Canada.
The Blue Bombers’ first game is scheduled for Tuesday, June 9, versus the Toronto Argonauts. Whether Lavasier Tuinei remains healthy and on the final Winnipeg roster remains to be seen, but you can bet that from Eugene, Oregon to Arcadia, Indiana, and everywhere else in between, family, friends and fans are hoping for his success.
Stay tuned for further developments on the status of Lavasier Tuinei