Palmer grad could play in NFL game tonight

PALMER — Former Palmer Moose football standout Junior Aumavae could make his official National Football League debut with the New York Jets tonight.

New York opens its 2013 preseason tonight against the Detroit Lions at 3:30 p.m. AST in Detroit.

Aumavae was signed by New York in March and is a reserve defensive lineman with the Jets. The 2004 graduate of Palmer High School is listed third on the depth chart at nose tackle, according to the team’s website.

“I’m just very blessed and fortunate. They saw potential and decided to sign me,” Aumavae told the Frontiersman in March. “I’m really looking forward to taking full advantage of the opportunity.”

This is not Aumavae’s first venture in the NFL. Aumavae, a two-time all-state offensive and defensive lineman who later starred at Division II Western Washington and Minnesota State-Mankato, spent a portion of the 2010 offseason with the Dallas Cowboys, but was released before the preseason.

Jets officials contacted Aumavae’s agent during the offseason, and he flew to New York for a workout. Aumavae said Jets head coach Rex Ryan administered his workout.

Aumavae was an all-state selection on offense and defense as a junior and senior at Palmer High.

The Jets will also play Jacksonville (Aug. 17), New York Giants (Aug. 24) and Philadelphia (Aug. 29) during the preseason.

Aumavae is competing for one of New York’s 53 spots on the final roster.