Sione Houma

Sione Vea Houma (born June 21, 1994) is a former American football fullback.[1]

Sione Houma
No. 39
Position:Fullback
Personal information
Born: (1994-06-21) June 21, 1994
Salt Lake City, Utah
Height:6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight:243 lb (110 kg)
Career information
High school:Highland (Salt Lake City, Utah)
College:Michigan
Undrafted:2016
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only

Houma was born in Utah, the son of immigrants from Tonga.[2] He grew up in Salt Lake City and played high school football at Highland, winning a state championship as a senior.[3] While in high school, he ran the 40-yard dash in 4.53 seconds, rushed for 2,001 yards in his junior and senior years, and returned a kickoff 88 yards for a touchdown.[4]

Houma enrolled at the University of Michigan in 2012 and played in every game for the Michigan football team from 2012 to 2014,[5] but he had not carried the ball prior to his senior season, with his playing time limited to blocking and special teams.[6] He initially gained note for introducing the haka to the Michigan football team,[7] and for his ukulele playing.[4]

As a senior in 2015, Houma gained acclaim for his tough running game, especially in short yardage situations. Coach Jim Harbaugh was so impressed with Houma that he gave him playing time at tailback. Harbaugh began referring to him as "Houuuuu-maaaa!" and noted the crowd response: "They're not booing, they're saying Houma."[8][9] Michigan's leading rusher, De'Veon Smith, referred to Houma as a "coconut head."[8] Houma rushed for 184 yards and five touchdowns during his senior year.[10] In the 2016 Citrus Bowl, Houma carried the ball a career-high nine times for 32 yards and a touchdown.[10]

Houma signed with the New Orleans Saints as an undrafted free agent on May 2, 2016 and was released during the preseason on August 30, 2016 as the Saints reduced the roster to 74 players.[11][12]

References
  1. "Sione Houma". mgoblue.com. University of Michigan. Archived from the original on January 21, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  2. "For Wolverines' Sione Houma, Michigan-Utah strikes a personal chord". Mlive.com. September 19, 2014.
  3. "Ex-Highland High star won a 2010 state title alongside ex-Ute Nate Orchard". The Salt Lake Tribune. September 2, 2015.
  4. Nick Baumgardner (November 11, 2015). "Michigan FB Sione Houma plays the ukulele, is as tough as a 'coconut' and is having a blast". Mlive.com.
  5. "Sione Houma Makes Most of Second Chance". The Michigan Journal. September 22, 2015.
  6. "Hard-headed Houma is a man of many talents". The Michigan Daily. November 11, 2015.
  7. "U-M fullback Sione Houma adds exotic flare". Detroit Free Press. September 18, 2014.
  8. Angelique S. Chengelis (November 12, 2015). "'Hou-Ma!' Harbaugh likes look, sound of UM 'coconut head'". The Detroit News.
  9. "U-M's Jim Harbaugh a big fan of Sione 'Hoooouuuma'". Detroit Free Press. November 12, 2015.
  10. "Sione Houma". ESPN.com. Retrieved January 1, 2016.
  11. Katzenstein, Josh. "New Orleans Saints trim roster to 74 players". The Times-Picayune. Archived from the original on September 4, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  12. "Saints Add 19 Undrafted Free Agents". New Orleans Saints. May 2, 2016. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
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