As a 6-9, 250 center at UTEP and then a pro basketball player in Europe, John Tofi played in two NCAA Tournaments and then nine years in Belgium, but he gets most excited when talking about his two oldest sons.
John Jr. is a tight end playing for Tosh Lupoi on the Cal Bears. Tommy, the second of six rambunctious Tofi boys, is a freshman offensive lineman for the Ducks, a four-star from Archbishop Riordan High School in San Francisco with a 6-6, 360 frame and the power to knock opponents off the ball.
John said the reception the Tofis have had in Eugene has almost knocked him off the ball. "It's been amazing," he said in an exclusive interview with Autzen Zoo and The Oregon Fan Show. "Since the moment they started recruiting Tommy, we always felt like it was more than just a recruiting process or a pitch. They welcomed us with open arms. So, it's always felt like family and that is what ultimately led Tommy to choosing Oregon."
Mr. Tofi was so generous he agreed to talk with us on his youngest son's first day of school.
In the Oregon Spring Game Tommy had a big day, playing four positions on the offensive line and grading out strong at all four. The Tofis made the trip as a family. "I never expected the spring game to feel like an actual game atmosphere," John said. "So, yeah, it was it was a great experience for us. Wonderful. Wonderful."
With a crowd of over 40,000 and a warm reception from the staff and other families, the Tofis had an exceptional time on a sunny weekend in Eugene. "I think that's what makes Oregon a special place. I think from top to bottom it's a family atmosphere. So before anything else, the wins and the losses, they actually care about the player. So that that meant a lot to us."
When the boys were young the family lived in Europe as John Sr. continued his career in the Belgian pro league, named MVP in 2016. As Tommy's first coach, he started him first in basketball, but by junior high, it became clear his size and reach made him a natural for the gridiron. By eighth grade Tommy was already 6-3, 285.
Early on he shined at clinics and camps, winning awards for his position, earmarked as a top prospect on the West Coast.
His parents gave him a foundation of faith and family, while as an athlete starting in basketball grounded him in footwork and agility. "When I started training my kids growing up," John said, "We didn't really practice on the the dribbling or, you know, the shooting or those kind of things. I focused mainly on having great feet. We did a lot of footwork drills, a lot of hand eye coordination drills, you know, and things like that. I always knew the foundation to a great athlete was was always having great feet, great hands."
Tommy grew to be 6-6, 340 coming out of high school, the No. 43 prospect in the 247Sports Composite and No. 3 interior offensive lineman.
Now wrapping up fall camp for the Ducks and beginning preparation for the season opener against Boise State in Autzen Stadium on September 5th, Tommy has focused on growing through the grind.
The team values of connection and growth have eased his transition to college football, John thinks.
"Every time I do get a chance to talk to him, you know, he's always doing something. If he's not at the facilities, he's like, 'Dad, I got to go sleep. I know I got to wake up a little bit early. I'm going to try to get to the facility and, you know, get some extra work in before or he's he's having Bible study with with Poncho [senior center Iapani Laloulu, a team leader and Rimington Award Candidate] and some of the guys. So we're really grateful and and appreciative of his surroundings and the leadership from a lot of the older guys at Oregon."
In just eight days, Marcus Mariota, Dillon Gabriel, Jevon Holland days, the proof's in the pudding.
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