USC football's 25 best three-star recruits of the modern era

24. Soma Vainuku

National: 373 | State: 49 | Position: 3

Soma Vainuku was not a particularly highly-ranked prospect nationally, but he was considered one of the top fullbacks in the 2010 class.

Lacking the skill of his predecessor, Stanley Havili, as a weapon at fullback, Vainuku’s contributions to USC when he arrived as an early enrollee in 2010 largely came on the special teams side of the game.

Vainuku earned All-Pac-12 first team honors as a special teams player in 2013. That year he blocked three punts and forced a safety. He was also named USC Football’s Special Teams Player of the Year, a feat he would achieve again in 2015.

As a fullback, Vainuku gained 148 yards on 24 career carries with three touchdowns. He also added 17 receptions for 124 yards and a touchdown.