Ceiling As High As Possible For Notre Dame LB Signee Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa

SAN ANTONIO - After a few days of coaching him, Adam Cruz says he could speak about Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa‍ for just as long.

“Unbelievable,” Cruz says of the Notre Dame linebacker signee. 

“He's just so instinctual, so athletic. He picks up concepts so quickly and he's even had a little bit of suggestions, 'Hey, why don't we try this? Why don't we do this?'”

Cruz is serving as an assistant for the West squad down here for the All-American Bowl and has had the opportunity to work with Viliamu-Asa all week.

“We've got some crazy rules to the game and it is hard on the Mike linebacker and he's just different,” Cruz says. “He's a play-wrecker. He's so athletic, he moves so well and he doesn't fear contact. We did that joint practice (Wednesday) and he just stands out. He just makes plays.”

The 6-foot-2, 230-pounder has certainly stood out physically.

“He's so much faster than you think he's going to be,” says Cruz. “His eyes are so good and he's so strong. His recovery, he can change directions really well, which in a game like this is important because linebackers aren't allowed to blitz. 

“He keeps telling me he's a great blitzer. Unfortunately, there's no blitzes in the game. But even with that, he's had some moments where he'll kind of fake it and show it and find ways to simulate pressure.”

But it’s Viliamu-Asa’s instincts that have been almost tangible.

“Speed-wise, I'm not even talking about like 40-yard-dash or whatever,” says Cruz. “I'm sure that's great for him. 

“With the kind of kids we have out here, everybody is at a high level, but his instincts are so good that it's just another gear. He reads his keys and knows where the ball's going and moves so well.”

Even among the best of the best, Viliamu-Asa has stood out to Cruz, who says the linebacker’s ceiling is “as high as a ceiling can be.”

“I really do mean that,” he continues.

“All of these kids have such high potential, but Kyngstonn is one that I really think people will be talking about for a long time playing football.”

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