Tuesday, April 21, 1998

ACU defensive tackle signs free agent contract with Cowboys

By AL PICKETT

Sports Editor

Abilene Christian University defensive tackle Sunia "Junior" Filikitonga was walking on Cloud 9 Monday after signing a free agent contract Sunday night with the Dallas Cowboys.

"I'm so excited," he said. "I couldn't go to sleep Sunday night. It's like winning the lottery. Now it's time to show myself."

The 6-2, 310-pounder said the Cowboys have talked to him about playing defensive tackle or nose guard. He will report to a Cowboys' rookie mini-camp on Thursday.

Filikitonga, who is known for his strength and weightlifting prowess, said Cowboys' scout Jim Hess, the former Angelo State and New Mexico State football coach, came to Abilene three times to watch him work out. Filikitonga also worked out for Tennessee Oilers' and Miami Dolphins' scouts in Abilene.

He said he went to his parents' home in Euless this weekend to watch the draft and hopefully await a phone call.

"The Cowboys called in the fifth round and said they wanted to take me in the seventh round," Filikitonga said. "Then they called back and said they needed to draft a tight end (in the seventh round), so they wanted to take me as a free agent.

"That didn't matter to me. When I signed Sunday night, it was the greatest feeling in the world."

The Cowboys' media relations office couldn't confirm any free agent signings Monday, saying all contracts must be approved before they are announced by their office.

Filikitonga was born in the Kingdom of Tonga, a group of Pacific Islands located northeast of New Zealand. He lived in American Samoa and Hawaii before coming to the mainland. He graduated from Euless Trinity High School and played two years of college football at Trinity Valley Community College before transferring to ACU.

He was named the Lone Star Conference defensive lineman of the year and was a first team selection on the Associated Press Little All-America team as well as several other NCAA Division II all-America teams.

Filikitonga had 52 tackles, four quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery for the Wildcats last fall. As a junior when he played defensive end, he recorded 42 tackles, six quarterback sacks and a fumble recovery.