347-pound Vita Vea now the heaviest player ever to score offensive TD
Tampa Bay’s Vita Vea has stamped an indelible mark on the NFL’s record books: With a 1-yard reception Sunday late in the first half of the Buccaneers’ 35-22 victory over the Atlanta Falcons, Vea, who weighs in at 347 pounds, unofficially became the heaviest player in NFL history to score an offensive touchdown.
Vea — full name Tevita Tuliʻakiʻono Tuipulotu Mosese Vaʻhae Fehoko Faletau Vea — snared the Jameis Winston pass on a short rollout to put the Buccaneers up 19-10 going into the half.
Yeah. YOU try covering that dude.
Vea’s touchdown breaks the receiving mark held by 345-pound Jonathan Ogden, and the rushing mark held by 346-pound Dontari Poe. Other members of the 330-plus-pound touchdown club include 335-pound William Perry and 330-pound Andrew Whitworth. They all still have a ways to go before they catch 440-pound John Krahn, who scored a touchdown in a high school exhibition game in 2016.
Here’s an interesting tidbit: Vea has a substantial offensive background. He averaged 12.3 yards per carry with 11 touchdowns at Milpitas (Calif.) high school. He switched over to defense at college in Washington and hasn’t looked back ... well, until now.
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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.
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