100 Days of Summer: Get to Know No. 95 Vili Leveni

As we continue our 100 Days of Summer series, let’s turn to a fifth-year Cowboy, Vili Leveni, who’s seen his fair share of adversity both on and off the field.

How he got to OSU

The defensive end from L.D. Bell High School (Hurst, Texas) was originally committed to Utah. But Joe Bob Clements’ coup to flip the three-star prospect was a huge piece of his first recruiting class at OSU. Leveni joined his high school teammate, offensive lineman Jesse Robinson in Stillwater.

What he’s done in Stillwater

Leveni has contributed at both tackle and end. When healthy, he’s the epitome of a versatile defender — something that could serve the Cowboys well as they plan on using both three-down and four-down fronts in 2017.

In 2014, Leveni played tackle every game as a redshirt freshman. He tallied 16 total tackles and 4.5 tackles for loss, including a four-tackle performance in the Cowboys’ Bedlam win that sent them to the Cactus Bowl.

Leveni missed all of 2015 after suffering an Achilles injury. Then, in 2016, he suffered another injury setback that held him out of the last four games of the season.

Glenn Spencer was noticeably upset after Leveni’s second season-ending injury.

“He said, ‘I’m sorry, Coach. My bad,’” Spencer told the Tulsa World after the game. “Are you kidding me? I just hugged his neck and said, ‘You don’t have to be sorry about anything. You’re out there fighting, man, you’re a warrior.’ Yeah, he said that to me. I couldn’t believe that. That’s just how bad he wants to be out there.”

Before his injury, Leveni was a key contributor at both defensive end and tackle and started at end against Texas.

Role in 2017

The Cowboys’ defensive line is probably as deep as any Mike Gundy has enjoyed. But with the installation of a new defensive scheme, Leveni’s versatility will be even more valuable to Glenn Spencer and Co.

Leveni sat out the spring to get healthy but is expected to be ready to go for fall camp. When healthy, he’s an impact player. There’s no reason to think he won’t be a big part the rotation wherever he is needed along the line.

Noteworthy stats and highlights

Recorded four tackles twice, the last time being against Baylor last season. The week before, he recorded 1.5 tackles for loss and a QB hurry against Pittsburgh.