Often lost in our love of BYU and college sports is the aspect of living on a small stipend and worrying about one's parents and family. While BYU has had players from every background, there have been quite a few whose families have had to sacrifice to help their sons be able to play and focus on their football career. I sincerely do not know Tonga's background, not do I know his current situation with being married/and or with children. I just know that most of us will never have the opportunity to play at the NFL level and worry about the possibility of losing millions of dollars by getting hurt by staying another year or going out too early and not getting drafted. The pressure on some of these athletes far exceeds that of just being famous.
Tonga has the ability to play at the next level and has the size and strength that I would love to see on the D line of my favorite NFL team, the Bears. Every game I have watched on television(I have season tickets), the National commentators have all singled him out as the player they see playing at the next level and player that opposing coaches have to game plan for. Selfishly, I want to see him play another year because of what he brings, but I want to see him be able to take care of him and possibly his parents, by having a long NFL career, as well. I do believe that he would benefit from another season that show cases his talent and where he can focus on conditioning, but I would never fault him for seeking to look at the NFL. Like Child's did with looking at the NBA, I don't see anything wrong with getting the scouts attention by considering the possibility of leaving early and then coming back for his senior year. (just do it the right way and no suspensions)