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Missouri Western’s defensive end Soane Etu returns a ball after an interception during a Sept. 13 game against Northwest Missouri State in Maryville, Mo. Etu has an MIAA-leading four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception so far this season.

Some of the defensive tackle mentality remains even if the size that helped Soane Etu play that position in junior college hasn’t.

At 6-foot-1, 240 pounds, Etu has used his speed and agility at defensive end to finish second in the MIAA in sacks last year and leads the conference in that category this season. But the Missouri Western senior still disrupts the middle of the line as well.

Last Saturday in Topeka, Kan., Washburn ran Justin Cooper on second-and-goal from the Western 1-yard line. Etu fought through two blockers and threw Cooper for a 1-yard loss. Two weeks ago, Etu burst through the middle of Pittsburg State’s line twice to block field goals.

“We knew he was an impact kid,” said Western coach Jerry Partridge, who recruited Etu out of Chabot Community College in Hayward, Calif. In two seasons in the Bay Area, Etu recorded 18 sacks and 100 tackles at defensive tackle. He was 265 pounds on his visit to Western and still verticaled 30 inches and posted a standing broad jump of nine feet.

But when he showed up to campus last year, Etu had lost about 30 pounds, so the Griffons moved him to defensive end. In his first game at Western, Etu showed off that speed, turning a sack-forced fumble-recovery trifecta against Baker. He finished off the play with a 41-yard return for a touchdown.

Nine and a half sacks and two more forced fumbles later, Etu was a second-team, All-MIAA performer in 2007. He’s been every bit as good this year with a league-leading four sacks, two forced fumbles and an interception. For a defense that struggled until last week, it seemed that when something good was happening for the Griffons, Etu usually had something to do with it.

“At this moment, he is our best defensive player,” Partridge said. “He is physical enough that we can play him inside.”

But if you want to hear about how well Etu is playing right now, you shouldn’t ask him. After forcing the fumble that led the Western’s final drive against Pittsburg State two weeks ago — one that came up two yards short of the upset — Etu ran to the sideline, fell on his back and screamed at the sky. But the Hayward, Calif., native’s vocal impact off the field is completely counter to his impact on it.

“I’m doing OK. I could always do better,” Etu said of his play.

All Partridge usually hears from Etu in practice is, 'Yes, sir.’

“He is one of those kids, he realizes that he has two ears and one mouth and is supposed to listen more than he talks,” Partridge said. “But really with that ratio, it would make Soane have 12 ears and one mouth.”

Etu was so quiet last year, his teammates didn’t realize some of Etu’s talents away from the field. To start off with, he mixes hip-hop beats and cuts hair as well.

“He doesn’t have a vocal presence at all,” said linebacker Sean Whiters, who admitted Etu has become more talkative in this season after having a year to get comfortable with his teammates.

It’s fair to say the rest of the MIAA won’t feel the same comfort level with Etu until his eligibility is exhausted at the end of this season.