Palmer grad continues to wait

PALMER — As National Football League teams work into the second week of the preseson, Junior Aumavae continues to wait for an offer to work with another NFL team.

Aumavae, a 2004 graduate of Palmer High School who spent just about three months with the Dallas Cowboys, has been waiting for another opportunity since Dallas released him in July.

Aumavae knows professional sports can sometime be a waiting game. But the former Palmer High School and Division II college standout also believes he has the ability to play the pro game.

“I know it’s part of the business,” Aumavae said Monday afternoon. “But I know I can still do something, that’s why I’m still waiting. Otherwise, I’d be wanting to pursue another career.”

The 6-foot-2, 330-pound defensive lineman continues his daily workout regimen as he waits.

“I know that call could come at any moment,” Aumavae said. “I need to stay in shape, be physically ready.”

Aumavae’s former roommate during his stay with the Cowboys, offensive lineman Chet Teofilo, was signed by the New York Jets on Aug. 13. Now, Aumavae hopes he’s the next to be grabbed by an NFL team.

The agency that represents Aumavae, Imani Sports, has contacted teams such as the Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks on Aumavae’s behalf.

Aumavae became a legitimate professional prospect as a defensive lineman for a pair of Division II schools. Aumavae began his college career at Western Washington University and earned All-Great Northwest Athletic Conference honors before WWU opted to kill its football program prior to Aumavae’s senior year.

After transferring to Minnesota State-Mankato, Aumavae made an immediate impact. He started 10 games and was named first-team All-Northern Sun Intercollegiate Conference and the NSIC Defensive Newcomer of the Year following the 2009 season.

Following his college career, Aumavae signed with Imani Sports, began to work out for NFL scouts and was seen as an “under the radar” prospect. Teams told Aumavae he could be selected in the later rounds of the draft or signed after the draft.

Aumavae was not selected in the 2010 NFL draft, but it wasn’t long before Dallas picked him up. Dallas officials contacted Aumavae moments after the conclusion of the seven-round draft, and he quickly signed with the Cowboys as a priority rookie free agent.

Aumavae made the trip to Texas in May to attend the team’s rookie mini-camp. He also participated in Dallas’ offseason team activities until his release in late July.

Dallas opted to release Aumavae after selecting former University of Illinois defensive lineman Josh Brent in the NFL supplemental draft in mid-July.

Aumavae said he hasn’t thought about his Plan B. Right now, Aumavae said he’s concentrating on being ready for that call.

“I know that call could come at any minute,” Aumavae said.

Contact Frontiersman sports editor Jeremiah Bartz at sports@frontiersman.com.