Viliami Fehoko Jr. Bio
Viliami Taopa Fehoko Jr. is an American professional football defensive tackle currently with the Indianapolis Colts of the National Football League. Born on December 16, 1999, in Stanford, California, he rose to prominence as a standout at San Jose State University, where he earned the 2022 Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year award. Selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round of the 2023 NFL Draft, Fehoko has since played for the Washington Commanders before joining the Colts.
Standing 6 feet 4 inches tall and weighing around 267 pounds, Fehoko combines his imposing physical profile with a relentless motor on the interior defensive line. His college resume and pro journey have established him as a developing rotational defender in the league.
Early Life and Background
Fehoko was born on December 16, 1999, in Stanford, California, and raised in East Palo Alto, California, where he grew up in a community that nurtured his athletic interests. He attended Saint Francis High School in Mountain View, where he initially played tight end for the football team. As a senior, he earned All-West Coast Athletic League, Bay Area News Group first-team All-Bay Area, and San Francisco Chronicle honorable-mention All-Metro honors.
Beyond football, Fehoko was part of the East Palo Alto Razorbacks rugby club, an experience that helped build his toughness and physical conditioning. On February 3, 2018, he committed to San Jose State University, setting the course for his collegiate future. His Tongan heritage and family ties have shaped his identity and work ethic.
Path to American Football
Fehoko’s transition from high school tight end to college defender began during his first year at San Jose State. As a true freshman in 2018, the San Jose State Spartans coaching staff converted him from a tight end into a defensive end. He appeared in four conference games before being redshirted, recording five tackles, including three against the University of Wyoming.
The move proved pivotal. By his redshirt freshman year in 2019, Fehoko had earned the starting role at left defensive end, racking up 44 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and four pass deflections. These early steps laid the foundation for his emergence as one of the Mountain West Conference’s premier defensive linemen.
Viliami Fehoko Jr. Career
Early Career (2018–2019)
Fehoko’s development at San Jose State accelerated rapidly under the guidance of the Spartans coaching staff. After a limited freshman campaign in which he adjusted to his new position, he returned in 2019 with renewed focus and earned the starting nod at left defensive end. His production that season included 44 tackles, three tackles for loss, one sack, and four pass deflections, the latter tying for second on the team.
This early period was essential for building his technique and football IQ. The coaching staff’s decision to move him from tight end paid off as he adapted to the speed and physicality required on the defensive line, setting the stage for his breakthrough sophomore season.
San Jose State Breakthrough (2020–2022)
The shortened 2020 season, reduced to eight games due to the COVID-19 pandemic, became Fehoko’s official breakout. Starting all eight contests, he recorded 36 tackles, 12.5 tackles for loss (leading the conference), 6 sacks, one pass deflection, and one fumble recovery. He delivered a standout performance against the University of New Mexico with six tackles, two tackles for loss, and one sack, earning first-team All-Mountain West honors for the first time.
As a junior in 2021, Fehoko started all 12 games and continued to ascend, posting 37 tackles, 10.5 tackles for loss (leading the team), 6 sacks (leading the team), 3 forced fumbles (leading the team), and six deflected passes. He earned his second consecutive first-team All-Mountain West selection. His senior campaign in 2022 cemented his legacy: he started all 12 games and delivered a career-high 69 tackles, 19 tackles for loss (fifth nationally), 9 sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and one deflected pass. He was named the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year and first-team All-Mountain West for the third straight season.
Fehoko finished his San Jose State career with 191 tackles, 46 tackles for loss (second in school history), 23 sacks (fifth in school history), 14 pass deflections, 5 forced fumbles, and 2 fumble recoveries across 48 games played. His combination of production, durability, and leadership made him one of the most decorated defenders in program history.
Dallas Cowboys Era (2023–2024)
Fehoko was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fourth round (129th overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft. In training camp, he was tried at defensive tackle but struggled with a shoulder injury that forced him to miss the preseason opener against the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was placed on injured reserve with a knee injury on November 18, 2023, and activated on January 3, 2024. He did not play a single snap in the regular season, spending 10 games on the inactive list and seven on injured reserve.
In 2024, he returned to training camp at defensive tackle before being moved back to defensive end ahead of the preseason. Despite Dallas losing defensive ends Dorance Armstrong and Dante Fowler Jr. in free agency, Fehoko could not move up the depth chart. He was waived by the Cowboys with an injury designation on August 26, 2024, and cleared from injured reserve on September 3, 2024.
Washington Commanders Era (2024–2025)
On November 26, 2024, Fehoko signed with the practice squad of the Washington Commanders, reuniting with head coach Dan Quinn, his former defensive coordinator in Dallas. He signed a reserve/future contract with the Commanders on January 28, 2025. Fehoko was waived/injured on August 11 and reverted to injured reserve the following day after going unclaimed, and was released with an injury settlement a week later.
Indianapolis Colts Era (2025–Present)
On November 18, 2025, Fehoko signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, marking his third NFL organization. He signed a reserve/future contract with Indianapolis on January 5, 2026. On April 30, 2026, he was waived by the Colts as teams shaped their offseason rosters.
Driving Style and Strengths
Fehoko’s game is built on explosive first-step quickness for a player his size, allowing him to penetrate gaps and disrupt running lanes at the line of scrimmage. His rugby background enhances his tackling leverage and pad level, while his length and motor make him effective against both the run and the pass. He has shown versatility by aligning at both defensive end and defensive tackle, demonstrating the flexibility to fit multiple defensive schemes.
Notable Events and Milestones
Fehoko’s 2022 senior season at San Jose State stands as his career milestone, highlighted by the Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year award and 19 tackles for loss that ranked fifth nationally. Being a fourth-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys in 2023 represented another major step, and his 23 career sacks rank fifth in San Jose State history, underscoring his production over five collegiate seasons.
Viliami Fehoko Jr. Career Wins
Fehoko’s resume is defined less by head-to-head wins and more by individual production across his college and professional stops. His most decorated stretch came at San Jose State, where he collected three consecutive first-team All-Mountain West selections and the conference’s Defensive Player of the Year award in 2022.
San Jose State Highlights
Fehoko registered 23 sacks and 46 tackles for loss across his Spartans career, totals that rank among the best in program history. His senior year was his statistical pinnacle, with 9 sacks, 19 tackles for loss, and 69 tackles, while his 2020 conference-leading 12.5 tackles for loss announced his arrival as an elite defender.
Other Wins and Performances
At Saint Francis High School, Fehoko earned All-West Coast Athletic League, Bay Area News Group first-team All-Bay Area, and San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro honorable-mention recognition, underscoring his long-standing production. His experience with the East Palo Alto Razorbacks rugby club also helped forge his physical style of play.
Viliami Fehoko Jr. Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Fehoko comes from a Tongan-American family rooted in East Palo Alto, California, where athletic tradition and community support shaped his upbringing. He is a second cousin of Vita Vea, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive tackle and former first-round pick, giving Fehoko a notable NFL connection within his extended family.
Personal Life
Fehoko speaks Tongan and can communicate in sign language, reflecting his cultural roots and adaptability. He is known to be focused on his football career and continued development, with deep ties to the East Palo Alto community that raised him.
2025 Season Performance
Fehoko’s 2025 campaign began with his release from the Washington Commanders via an injury settlement in mid-August, which kept him out of football through the early months of the season. On November 18, 2025, he signed with the Indianapolis Colts’ practice squad, providing an opportunity to re-establish himself on an NFL roster.
His role with Indianapolis centered on practice-squad development as he worked back from the injury that had cut short his time in Washington. The Colts, contending in the AFC playoff picture, offered a competitive environment for Fehoko to refine his craft and prepare for a potential elevation to the active roster.
Looking ahead, Fehoko signed a reserve/future contract with Indianapolis on January 5, 2026, securing his place with the organization for the next league year. He was waived on April 30, 2026, but his 2025 resilience and continued production at practice suggest further opportunities remain on the horizon.