Former Eureka Logger and Butte College football star Sam Vainuku has made a verbal commitment to play for the Humboldt State Lumberjacks this fall.

Vainuku, who was the Big Five’s co-MVP in 2003 with former Logger and current Cincinnati Bengal Maurice Purify (when the team went 13-0 and won the North Coast Section championship), was also an All-Golden Valley Conference linebacker for Butte in 2005 and ’06.

Vainuku did not play for any team last fall, although he was recruited by Washington State, and is eager to return to the field after finishing up school this semester at Butte.

“It’s only made me hungrier to get back out there,” Vainuku said. “I thought I wanted to take a break from football, as weird as that may sound, but it was grueling watching all the football this year. Watching Rey (Maualuga, middle linebacker for the USC Trojans who was also a member of the ’03 Loggers) on TV, and Mo on TV, man, I was like, I just want to go to practice.”

Vainuku, who stands at 6-feet, 1-inch and 235 pounds, played outside linebacker both seasons at Butte, but is hoping to make the switch to free safety for the Jacks.

“Right now I think (HSU) wants me to play linebacker, but I really want to play free safety,” he said. “So I just have to go out there and show them what I got.”

Much like his former teammates Purify and Maualuga (who is already being projected as a possible No. 1 overall pick in the 2009 NFL Draft), Vainuku also has his eyes set on the National Football League, and does not feel his chances are limited because he’s playing at the Division-II level.

“If you’re a good enough player, your skill will speak for itself, and NFL teams will find out about you,” Vainuku said. “A lot of Division-II kids were picked up in the draft this year. I could have gone to other schools, but why not HSU? This my home town, I feel comfortable playing here and I feel comfortable eating dinner at my parents’ house.”

Vainuku is in town this weekend for Mother’s Day, and although he has not yet worked out with the Jacks, he’s looking forward to finishing up school and getting back on the practice field.

“I just can’t wait to get back on the field,” he said.

Vainuku is now the second former Logger to be recruited by HSU’s new head football coach Rob Smith, who took over the program Jan. 30. Current Eureka senior Brandon Vitale signed a letter of intent to play with the Jacks last month.