Simi Fehoko
{{Short description|American football player (born 1997)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Simi Fehoko
| image = Simi Fehoko (52479577872) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Fehoko with the Dallas Cowboys in 2022
| current_team = Arizona Cardinals
| number =
| position = Wide receiver
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1997|11|05}}
| birth_place = Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 218
| high_school = Brighton {{avoid wrap|(Cottonwood Heights, Utah)}}
| college = Stanford (2018–2020)
| draftyear = 2021
| draftround = 5
| draftpick = 179
| pastteams =
- Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2021}}–{{NFL Year|2022}})
- Pittsburgh Steelers ({{NFL Year|2023}})*
- Los Angeles Chargers ({{NFL Year|2023}}–{{NFL Year|2024}})
- Arizona Cardinals ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Active
| highlights =
- First-team All-Pac-12 (2020)
| statweek = 6
| statseason = 2024
| statlabel1 = Receptions
| statvalue1 = 7
| statlabel2 = Receiving yards
| statvalue2 = 94
| statlabel3 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue3 = 1
}}
Simione Tufui Fehoko ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|f|eɪ|h|oʊ|k|oʊ}} {{respell|FAY|hoh|koh}};{{cite web |title=2022 Dallas Cowboys Media Guide |url=https://static.www.nfl.com/league/apps/league-site/media-guides/2022/DAL.pdf |website=NFL.com |publisher=National Football League |access-date=3 October 2022}} born November 5, 1997) is an American professional football wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Stanford Cardinal and was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round of 2021 NFL draft.
Early life
Fehoko played football at Brighton High School in Cottonwood Heights, Utah. As a junior he led the state in receiving, posting 65 receptions for 1,656 yards and 24 receiving touchdowns (state record).
As a senior, he tallied 59 receptions for 1,495 yards and 16 receiving touchdowns. He was a two-time All-state selection and was named to the 2015 USA Today All-USA high school football second-team.{{Cite web|date=2015-12-23|title=ALL-USA Football Offense: Second-team|url=https://usatodayhss.com/2015/2015-american-family-insurance-all-usa-football-second-team|access-date=2021-01-30|website=USA TODAY High School Sports|language=en-US}} He set the state record for career receiving yards (3,571) and career receiving touchdowns (41). He was a four star recruit coming out of high school and committed to Stanford University to play college football.{{Cite web|title=Simi Fehoko, 2016 Wide Receiver - Rivals.com|url=https://n.rivals.com/content/prospects/2016/simi-fehoko-300|access-date=2021-01-30|website=n.rivals.com}}{{Cite web|last=Judd|first=Brandon|date=2015-07-19|title=Brighton wide receiver Simi Fehoko commits to play football at Stanford, choosing Cardinal over BYU and Utah|url=https://www.deseret.com/2019/8/05/20568681/brighton-wide-receiver-simi-fehoko-commits-to-play-football-at-stanford-choosing-cardinal-over-byu-a|access-date=2021-01-30|website=Deseret News|language=en}}
Fehoko also lettered in basketball.
College career
After a two-year LDS mission in Seoul, Korea, Fehoko began his freshman season in 2018.{{Cite web|title=CardinalSportsReport - A former HS All-American, Fehoko excited for Stanford after mission|url=https://stanford.rivals.com/news/a-former-hs-all-american-fehoko-excited-for-stanford-after-mission|access-date=2021-01-30|website=stanford.rivals.com}} He played in the last 4 games as a backup, making one reception for 6 yards.
As a sophomore, he appeared in 12 games with one start. He registered 24 receptions for 566 yards (fourth on the team), a 23.58-yard average per reception (school record) and 6 receiving touchdowns (second on the team). He had 3 receptions for 97 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns against the University of Arizona. He made 3 receptions for 92 yard and 2 touchdowns against Washington State University.
As a junior in 2020, the football season was reduced to 6 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He played in all 6 games with 5 starts, leading the team with 37 receptions for 574 yards, a 15.5-yard average per reception and 3 touchdowns, while being named to the All-Pac-12 First-team.{{Cite web|title=Simi Fehoko - Football|url=https://gostanford.com/sports/football/roster/simi-fehoko/17007|access-date=2021-01-30|website=Stanford University Athletics|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=2020 Pac-12 Football All-Conference honors and annual awards announced|url=https://pac-12.com/article/2020/12/21/2020-pac-12-football-all-conference-honors-and-annual-awards-announced|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222200437/https://pac-12.com/article/2020/12/21/2020-pac-12-football-all-conference-honors-and-annual-awards-announced|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 22, 2020|access-date=2021-01-30|website=pac-12.com|language=en}} He had 6 receptions for 100 yards against Oregon State University. He tallied 16 receptions (school record), 230 receiving yards (third in school history) and 3 receiving touchdowns in the double-overtime win over UCLA, 48-47.
On August 28, 2020, he announced that he would forgo his senior season in order to enter the 2021 NFL draft.{{Cite web|date=2020-12-28|title=Stanford WR Simi Fehoko declares for draft|url=https://www.espn.com/college-football/story/_/id/30613049/stanford-cardinal-wr-simi-fehoko-declares-nfl-draft|access-date=2021-01-30|website=ESPN.com|language=en}} He finished his college career with 62 receptions for 1,146 yards, an 18.5-yard average per reception (third in school history), 9 receiving touchdowns and 77% of his total receptions (48) resulted in either a first down or a touchdown.
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 3 7/8
| weight = 222
| dash = 4.43
| ten split = 1.59
| twenty split = 2.62
| shuttle = 4.26
| cone drill = 6.78
| vertical = 34.5
| broad ft = 10
| broad in = 0
| bench = 16
| arm span = 31 5/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| wonderlic =
| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/simi-fehoko/32004645-4855-6867-28d1-9272a231323b |title=Simi Fehoko Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |website=NFL.com |access-date=February 18, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1017532&DraftYear=2021 |title=Simi Fehoko, Stanford, WR, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |website=draftscout.com |access-date=February 18, 2022}}{{Cite web |url=https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105292 |title=Simi Fehoko 2021 NFL Draft Profile |website=insider.espn.com |access-date=February 18, 2022 |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131235132/https://insider.espn.com/nfl/draft/player/_/id/105292 |url-status=bot: unknown }}
}}
=Dallas Cowboys=
Fehoko was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth round (179th overall) of the 2021 NFL Draft.{{cite web|title=5th-Round WR Simi Fehoko Has Intriguing Skill Set|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/5th-round-wr-simi-fehoko-has-intriguing-skill-set|author=Phillips, Rob|website=DallasCowboys.com|date=May 1, 2021}} He signed his four-year rookie contract on May 13, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-officially-sign-4-draft-picks-before-camp|first=Nick|last=Eatman|title=Cowboys Officially Sign 4 Draft Picks Before Camp|website=Dallas Cowboys|access-date=May 13, 2021}} As a rookie, he appeared in 5 games, playing mainly on special teams, but did not record any stats. He was placed on Reserve/COVID-19 list for the fifteenth game against the Washington Commanders. He was declared inactive for the Wild Card playoff game.
In 2022, he appeared in 5 games, making 5 receptions for 24 yards. He suffered a left shoulder injury in the fifth game against the Los Angeles Rams. On October 15, 2022, he was placed on injured reserve.{{cite web|title=Cowboys move 2 to IR, add RB to 54-man roster vs Eagles for Week 6|url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/gallery/cowboys-eagles-53-man-roster-week-6/|work=Cowboys Wire|publisher=USA Today|date=October 15, 2022}}
In the 2023 preseason, he fell on the depth chart behind second-year player Jalen Tolbert and rookie Jalen Brooks. On August 29, 2023, he was waived.{{Cite web |date=2023-08-30 |title=Simi Fehoko: Parts ways with Dallas |url=https://www.cbssports.com/fantasy/football/news/simi-fehoko-parts-ways-with-dallas/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=CBSSports.com |language=en}}
=Pittsburgh Steelers=
On August 31, 2023, Fehoko was signed to the practice squad of the Pittsburgh Steelers.{{Cite web |last=kate.magdziuk |date=2023-08-31 |title=Desmond King officially signs, Steelers add to the practice squad |url=https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/pittsburgh-steelers-roster/2023/8/31/23854354/steelers-roster-desmond-king-practice-squad-signings-simi-fehoko-kellen-diesch |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=Behind the Steel Curtain |language=en}} He was on the same team as his cousin, nose tackle Breiden Fehoko.
=Los Angeles Chargers=
On September 25, 2023, Fehoko signed with the Los Angeles Chargers off the Steelers practice squad, to provide depth after Mike Williams was lost for the season.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers Place Mike Williams on Injured Reserve; Sign Wide Receiver Simi Fehoko|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-place-mike-williams-on-injured-reserve-sign-simi-fehoko|website=Chargers.com|date=September 26, 2023}} He reunited with offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who also was his offensive coordinator with the Cowboys. He was released on December 5 and re-signed to the practice squad two days later.{{cite web | url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-activate-safety-jt-woods-week-14-2023 | title=Los Angeles Chargers Activate Safety JT Woods }}{{cite web |last1=Brizuela |first1=James |title=Chargers Re-Sign Receiver, Cut CB As Crucial Broncos Bout Approaches |url=https://www.kget.com/sports/sports-illustrated/arena-nfl/si-los-angeles-chargers-nfl/dbfb4199/chargers-re-sign-receiver-cut-cb-as-crucial-broncos-bout-approaches/ |website=KGET |access-date=8 December 2023}} He appeared in 6 games playing mostly on special teams, while compiling one reception for 9 yards, one touchdown and one special teams tackle. He was declared inactive in 3 contests.
He signed a reserve/future contract on January 11, 2024.{{cite web|title=Los Angeles Chargers Sign 11 Players to Contracts|url=https://www.chargers.com/news/los-angeles-chargers-sign-11-players-to-contracts-2024|website=Chargers.com|date=January 11, 2024}}
=Arizona Cardinals=
On March 14, 2025, the Arizona Cardinals signed Fehoko to a one-year contract.{{cite web|title=Cardinals sign WR Simi Fehoko to a one-year deal|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/cardinals-sign-wr-simi-fehoko-to-a-one-year-deal|author=Williams, Charean|work=Pro Football Talk|publisher=NBC Sports|date=March 14, 2025}}
Personal life
His cousin Breiden Fehoko plays nose tackle in the NFL.{{Cite news |url=https://www.chargers.com/news/chargers-simi-fehoko-wide-receiver-5-things-to-know |title=5 Things to Know About New Chargers WR Simi Fehoko |date=2023-09-26 |last=Navarro |first=Omar |website=Chargers.com |access-date=2023-11-17}}
References
{{Reflist|30em}}
External links
{{commons category}}
- [https://www.azcardinals.com/team/players-roster/simi-fehoko/ Arizona Cardinals bio]
- [https://gostanford.com/sports/football/roster/simi-fehoko/ Stanford Cardinal bio]
{{Cowboys2021DraftPicks}}
{{Arizona Cardinals roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fehoko, Simi}}
Category:Players of American football from Salt Lake City
Category:American football wide receivers
Category:Stanford Cardinal football players
Category:American people of Tongan descent
Category:American Mormon missionaries in South Korea
Category:Latter Day Saints from Utah
Category:Dallas Cowboys players
Category:Pittsburgh Steelers players
Category:Los Angeles Chargers players
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football