Bear Insider Video: Cal OG Sioape Vatikani

By Jim McGill

August 29, 2022

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In the Bears’ class of five 2022 offensive linemen, 6-3/335 offensive guard is undoubtedly the strongest of the bunch -not only in his ‘22 class but on the whole team. The 4-year OL and 3-year DL starter and 4-time all-state lineman has already played himself into the rotation, earning a second-team backup nod at left guard.

His transition to Cal has been seamless so far.

“Oh, I love it here,” said Vatikani. “It’s a very friendly group of people, especially here at the football field. They're all welcoming and everything, even on the streets, you can find a friend. Cal is just a friendly place; it is nice to be here.”

The OL class is a tight group and wasted no time bonding.

“The first night we met, we actually spent it on a movie night (seeing) Stranger Things when it just came out. The freshmen just had to bond somehow so the offensive line was the first one to start out. Here we are, breaking the ice with the older guys and it’s just a great experience.”

Vatinkani came aboard with fellow offensive linemen Jackson Brown and Trent Ramsey and were joined by transfer portal linemen Spencer Lovell and TJ Session in the ‘22 class.

“Oh, they’re great,” said Vatikani of the two veteran transfers. “They came here a little earlier than the freshman did so they’re more experienced on the playbook than the freshman are, but we’re all learning together even though the guys that are still here, they’re learning new things because the offensive line is all technique at this point.”

As noted earlier, Vatikani tops the charts for the Bears in the weight room and has soon good strength and conditioning gains since coming in.

“Right now, I am benching around 455 pounds and squatting around 600 pounds,” noted Vatikani.

Beyond strength gains, it’s also showing in his leaner physique.

“It's mostly showing all the fat is losing out, it’s great,” said Vatikani of his physical transformation. He noted the style of lifting in Cal’s S&C program is a step up from any that he’s experienced so far.

“It's way more explosive the way that we run stuff here at Cal,” noted Vatikani. “It’s way more explosive than the strain you have on your body when you are lifting. We're all about explosion and moving the weight fast. It really helps in terms of strengthening.”

Though he’s a natural interior player, the talented frosh played mainly at left tackle in high school but has found the transition to left guard after starting out at right guard a smooth one.

“I was a fan of the left side so whether it is left guard or left tackle I love it,” said Vatikani. “I just love putting my hand in that dirt and pulling around and just starting off low. Tackle was cool but I love putting my hand in the dirt.”

Playing on the interior, Vatikani’s able to put his considerable strength to better use that he could on the outside.

“For me it is (the case),” said Vatikani. “For a lot of people, it’s different. They have different bodies; me, I feel like my angles are better with my hand in the dirt so I can get more off the ball.”

Vatikani, who chose Cal over USC, UCLA, Tennessee, Nebraska and more was asked about some of his toughest competition on the DL in camp this fall.

“Akili Calhoun,” said Vatikani. “He’s insane, he can transfer speed into power instantly. Also, Jaedon Roberts. Jaedon Roberts is big… BIG competition one on ones. Not only is he strong but he’s really quick.”

Working with the 2’s throughout camp instead of working in slowly with the 3’s or 4’s has hastened Vatikani’s transition to quickly earning a spot in the OL rotation heading into the season.

“Yes sir, I feel like I am settling down on the left side,” said Vatikani. “It's really helping me with game speed. But we're nowhere near the game speed with 2s reps but coming in as a freshman I don’t know what game speed is, yet. I’ve just been told. But I feel like getting in a lot of reps is helping me out.”

Vatikani had a chance as an early commit to learn the playbook, helping him not have to think as much as a new player.

“So far there are some plays that I have my highs, and some plays I have my lows,” noted Vatikani. “At this point for all of us, it’s about consistency. Consistency is one of our biggest goals. We’ll get it right when we play but we have to make sure it’s every single play.”

The amount of reps the big OG has put in the bank throughout fall camp and the last week of practice has allowed him to continue to feel comfortable executing his assignments on the field.

“Repetition… Repetition,” noted Vatikani as the key to continuing to develop a comfort level on the field. “We get a lot of reps. As Coach (Angus McClure) says, we get paid by the reps, so we have to keep going. We have to get as many reps as we can in the short amount of time that we have.”

The big frosh from Reno likes the looks of what he sees in his new program.

“I expect a lot,” said Vatikani about predictions for this season. “The run game is going to be fun. I don’t know if I'll be there in the game, but it will be fun to watch. We make holes and we move the line of scrimmage and that’s the goal -consistently moving the line of scrimmage. So, our running backs are going to find that gap and it's going to be fun.