Fresno State Athletics
Mythical Being: Netane Muti
8/17/2018 12:00:00 PM | Football
Fresno State sophomore offensive lineman Netane Muti is primed for a breakout 2018 season.
Much like unicorns, Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, there are an array of mythical beings in society that get the imagination running and maybe one day, somewhere will prove to be an actuality.
Until that time comes, there are more real creatures out there like Fresno State redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Netane Muti. Someone who certainly looks like he could have been created in a lab somewhere, the Bulldog offensive lineman is an actual, real human being.
Arriving from Wahiawa, O'ahu in Hawai'i in the summer of 2016, Muti made a quick first impression on his Bulldog teammates as redshirt junior defensive lineman Jasad Haynes knew from the jump that he was going to develop into something special.
"I remember when he first got here in the summer as a freshman in player-run practices and we were doing one on one's and nobody ever beat him. Not even the older guys. You could tell right away this guy could play," remembers Haynes.
Standing 6-3 and weighing 310 pounds, Muti checks in as the sixth-heaviest Bulldog by weight and is one of 34 'Dogs who stand 6-3 or taller. Not the biggest or the tallest, what Muti may lack in height or weight, he certainly more than makes up for in sheer strength.
One of two Bulldogs, along with Haynes, to bench, power clean and squat a combined 1,300 pounds or more this summer, the legend of Muti only gains steam in the weight room.
"He is a crazy freak athlete and that shows everywhere on the field and in the weight room," comments quarterback Marcus McMaryion. "I don't think he really has a sense of how heavy the weight he is lifting actually is."
"With his strength once he gets his hands on you, you are not going anywhere plus he can move," states Haynes. "He really doesn't have any weaknesses, you just have to get him on a bad rep."
McMaryion may think the weight Muti throws around in the weight room is crazy, Muti himself isn't as impressed.
"I try not to put how heavy the weight I am lifting is in my head, I like to think I am weak and can always do more," says Muti. "I compare myself against my older brother who I think is much stronger than me so that is why I think I am weak. I never want to skip any reps and go until I can't anymore. I just go in with a mindset to get better each time."
It is that mentality of never being satisfied that offensive line coach Ryan Grubb has certainly seen from his young stud pupil, "I think that is a big part of his demeanor and he hates to lose. Whether it is in the weight room or making a block on the field, he wants to get it right and be physical."
With only 14 career games under his belt, Muti still has a long way to go to reach his ceiling as a player and will continue to grow this fall as he makes the transition from guard to tackle.
Tasked with protecting McMaryion's blind side this season, Muti has used the first two weeks of training camp to get familiar to his new position.
"I am getting used to it," said Muti. "I would say the main difference between guard and tackle would be the pass protections, but it is nothing major. I would say guard is more physical and tackle is more technique.
Grubb has seen Muti start to embrace the move to tackle and knows it will ultimately benefit the entire offense and team.
"He has done a great job of transitioning from guard. Tackle is a really difficult position, not only the schematic part, but the demeanor and most of the time being on an island and taking care of all the calls yourself," says Grubb.
"People love to talk about Muti's physical prowess, but he has done a great job with all the schematics and his growth in the film room has been really good," adds Grubb.
While making great gains in the weight room, it is on the mental side of the game that Muti has seen the largest gains in his game.
"I would say my biggest growth has been the mental side of the game, getting in the film room and learning about different defenses," said Muti.
Grubb is certainly starting to see Muti emerging as a complete player, "He is constantly sitting in the film room getting more work and he's hungry to get better. We just have to keep feeding him, technique, film, technique, film. The sky is certainly the limit for him."
Named to the Polynesian Football Player of the Year Watch List on Aug. 9., given annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity, and lauded by Haynes as the best offensive lineman, opponents included, he has faced since arriving at Fresno State, the recognition does not matter much to Muti.
"I'm not really focused on any of that, but more on winning the Mountain West with class, integrity and academy excellence," said Muti taking a nod from head coach Jeff Tedford.
With McMaryion sleeping easier at night knowing he has a humble, hard-working beast protecting his blind side, it only seems like Muti is a mythical being.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateFB
Instagram:Â Fresno_State_Football
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
Until that time comes, there are more real creatures out there like Fresno State redshirt sophomore offensive lineman Netane Muti. Someone who certainly looks like he could have been created in a lab somewhere, the Bulldog offensive lineman is an actual, real human being.
Arriving from Wahiawa, O'ahu in Hawai'i in the summer of 2016, Muti made a quick first impression on his Bulldog teammates as redshirt junior defensive lineman Jasad Haynes knew from the jump that he was going to develop into something special.
"I remember when he first got here in the summer as a freshman in player-run practices and we were doing one on one's and nobody ever beat him. Not even the older guys. You could tell right away this guy could play," remembers Haynes.
Standing 6-3 and weighing 310 pounds, Muti checks in as the sixth-heaviest Bulldog by weight and is one of 34 'Dogs who stand 6-3 or taller. Not the biggest or the tallest, what Muti may lack in height or weight, he certainly more than makes up for in sheer strength.
One of two Bulldogs, along with Haynes, to bench, power clean and squat a combined 1,300 pounds or more this summer, the legend of Muti only gains steam in the weight room.
"He is a crazy freak athlete and that shows everywhere on the field and in the weight room," comments quarterback Marcus McMaryion. "I don't think he really has a sense of how heavy the weight he is lifting actually is."
"With his strength once he gets his hands on you, you are not going anywhere plus he can move," states Haynes. "He really doesn't have any weaknesses, you just have to get him on a bad rep."
McMaryion may think the weight Muti throws around in the weight room is crazy, Muti himself isn't as impressed.
"I try not to put how heavy the weight I am lifting is in my head, I like to think I am weak and can always do more," says Muti. "I compare myself against my older brother who I think is much stronger than me so that is why I think I am weak. I never want to skip any reps and go until I can't anymore. I just go in with a mindset to get better each time."
It is that mentality of never being satisfied that offensive line coach Ryan Grubb has certainly seen from his young stud pupil, "I think that is a big part of his demeanor and he hates to lose. Whether it is in the weight room or making a block on the field, he wants to get it right and be physical."
With only 14 career games under his belt, Muti still has a long way to go to reach his ceiling as a player and will continue to grow this fall as he makes the transition from guard to tackle.
Tasked with protecting McMaryion's blind side this season, Muti has used the first two weeks of training camp to get familiar to his new position.
"I am getting used to it," said Muti. "I would say the main difference between guard and tackle would be the pass protections, but it is nothing major. I would say guard is more physical and tackle is more technique.
Grubb has seen Muti start to embrace the move to tackle and knows it will ultimately benefit the entire offense and team.
"He has done a great job of transitioning from guard. Tackle is a really difficult position, not only the schematic part, but the demeanor and most of the time being on an island and taking care of all the calls yourself," says Grubb.
"People love to talk about Muti's physical prowess, but he has done a great job with all the schematics and his growth in the film room has been really good," adds Grubb.
While making great gains in the weight room, it is on the mental side of the game that Muti has seen the largest gains in his game.
"I would say my biggest growth has been the mental side of the game, getting in the film room and learning about different defenses," said Muti.
Grubb is certainly starting to see Muti emerging as a complete player, "He is constantly sitting in the film room getting more work and he's hungry to get better. We just have to keep feeding him, technique, film, technique, film. The sky is certainly the limit for him."
Named to the Polynesian Football Player of the Year Watch List on Aug. 9., given annually to the most outstanding Polynesian college football player that epitomizes great ability and integrity, and lauded by Haynes as the best offensive lineman, opponents included, he has faced since arriving at Fresno State, the recognition does not matter much to Muti.
"I'm not really focused on any of that, but more on winning the Mountain West with class, integrity and academy excellence," said Muti taking a nod from head coach Jeff Tedford.
With McMaryion sleeping easier at night knowing he has a humble, hard-working beast protecting his blind side, it only seems like Muti is a mythical being.
"Just the Ticket to Build Our Community" – 940 AM ESPN Radio and 1600 AM ESPN Deportes is the official home of the Fresno State Bulldogs.
Â
Follow us on:
Twitter:Â @FresnoStateFB
Instagram:Â Fresno_State_Football
Facebook:Â FresnoStateAthletics
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