Laekin Vakalahi

BIRDSEED

► Entered the NFL having never played a down of football before ... Had not thought about playing football prior to being scouted by Philadelphia's international scout, Chris Naeole ... Before that, the closest he had gotten to the game was playing free trials of Madden on Xbox

► Landed on the Eagles' radar after a friend of Naeole's struck up a conversation with Vakalahi's father while his parents were on vacation in Hawaii ... The discussion first centered around the size of Laekin's younger brother, Kobe, who isn't old enough to play, before focusing on Laekin, who was completing a two-year mission service with his church in New Zealand ... Once the mission ended, a workout was scheduled between Laekin and Naeole in Wellington, New Zealand

► Born in Auckland, New Zealand and raised in Melbourne, Australia ... Prior to the NFL, played junior rugby league in Brisbane, Australia and also competed in basketball during his time in Melbourne

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