Mike Iupati Michael Iupati ( or ; born May 12 , 1987 ) is an American football guard for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League ( NFL ) . A native of American Samoa , Iupati was raised in California . He played college football for the University of Idaho , and earned All - American honors . He was selected 17th overall by the 49ers in the 2010 NFL Draft . Early years . A native of American Samoa , Iupati attended Western High School in Anaheim , California , where he began playing football under the guidance of Odell Harrington , the school ' s half - Samoan football coach . His first chances to play came in his sophomore year , when senior Fili Moala injured his foot two games into the season . Playing lineman on both sides of the ball , Iupati received all - state and all - conference honors and served as a team captain . As a junior , he had 80 tackles and 12 sacks and earned a first team All - CIF selection . He also competed in wrestling and track . Considered only a two - star recruit by both " Rivals . com " and " Scout . com " , Iupati was not ranked among the best offensive lineman prospects in the nation . Only few schools offered scholarships , among them Arizona and Texas – El Paso . However , those schools backed off because of Iupati ' s poor academic record , caused by a language barrier ( English is his second language ) . Not having a high enough SAT score or sufficient grades , Iupati was planning to attend junior college until Johnny Nansen saw him in 2005 , at a junior college ' s barbecue hosted for potential recruits . Nansen , then an assistant at Idaho under head coach Nick Holt , offered him a spot with the Vandals the next day and spent considerable time trying to convince Iupati and his family that the Western Athletic Conference university on the Palouse was a better choice than junior college . College career . Iupati attended the University of Idaho , and played for the Idaho Vandals football team from 2006 to 2009 . Because of academic problems , he was ineligible to play and therefore unable to receive a scholarship or financial aid . His family took out a loan to pay out - of - state tuition and room and board for his first year . He joined the Vandals football team in 2006 , Iupati saw action in a backup role as a redshirt freshman under head coach Dennis Erickson . As a sophomore in 2007 , he started all 12 games at left guard and became an impact player on the line for the struggling Vandals , under first - year head coach Robb Akey . Iupati had off - season shoulder surgery and did not return to the lineup until the third game of the 2008 season . He went on to start eight of the 10 games in which he played . He earned second team All - WAC recognition in his junior year . For the 2009 season , Iupati was named to the preseason watch list for the Outland Trophy and the Lombardi Award . He was listed at No . 9 on " Rivals . com ′ s " preseason interior lineman power ranking . < ref name = " Rivals . com C / G ranking " > < / ref > During the 2009 season , Iupati started all 12 games at left guard , played 807 snaps and had 49 knockdowns and 21 pancake blocks . He did not allow a quarterback sack and just five defensive players he has blocked have even pressured quarterbacks Nathan Enderle or Brian Reader . He helped the Vandals record their first winning season since 1999 , and their first bowl game win since 1998 , as they beat the Bowling Green Falcons 43 – 42 in the Humanitarian Bowl . On November 24 , 2009 , Iupati was named one of three finalists for the Outland Trophy , alongside Russell Okung and winner Ndamukong Suh . Iupati was a consensus 2009 All - American and also named first team All - WAC . He was the first Idaho Vandal to receive All - American honors since John Yarno in 1976 and the first All - American from the WAC since Ryan Clady in 2007 . Professional career . 2010 NFL Draft . Iupati was considered one of the best offensive guard prospects available in the 2010 NFL Draft . According to several scouts he projected as a late first or early second round selection . " The Sporting News ′ " Russ Lande reported that " nearly every scout who has evaluated Iupati on film says he has the footwork and athleticism to be an NFL left tackle . " According to " Sports Illustrated ' s " Tony Pauline Iupati was " the highest - rated guard since Steve Hutchinson , " whom the Seattle Seahawks selected with the 17th pick in the 2001 NFL Draft . To prepare for the NFL Combine , Iupati relocated to Irvine and worked with former NFL lineman Jackie Slater at least four days a week , at both guard and tackle . By the time of the combine , Iupati was ranked as high as 15th best player overall on several draft boards as well as the only guard projected to go in the first two rounds by NFLDraftScout . com . Though Iupati only scored a 13 on the Wonderlic intelligence test , it did not stop the San Francisco 49ers from selecting Iupati in the 1st round with the 17th pick overall . It was the first time the 49ers used a first round pick on an interior offensive lineman since selecting Forrest Blue in 1968 . Iupati was the highest selected Idaho Vandal since Ray McDonald went 13th overall to the Washington Redskins in the 1967 NFL Draft . San Francisco 49ers . On July 30 , Iupati signed with the 49ers and reportedly received a five - year contract worth $ 18 . 25 million with $ 10 . 8 million guaranteed . He has worked with the 49ers ' first - string offense at left guard since David Baas was injured in training camp . Iupati had a strong start to the 2010 season , not committing a penalty , or allowing a sack until Week 5 . He made valuable contributions to the 49ers ' running game , delivering downfield blocks . " ESPN " ' s Mike Sandos selected Iupati to his 2010 All - NFC West Team , while the Pro Football Writers Association named him one of their 2010 NFL All - Rookie selections . In 2012 , Iupati had an outstanding season and made the 2012 All - Pro first team . He was also one of the six 49ers selected as Pro Bowl starters . Personal . Born and raised in Vaitogi , American Samoa , Iupati ' s family moved to Garden Grove , California , after he had finished junior high school . He is the son of Aposetolo , a former mechanic at Los Angeles International Airport , and Belinda Iupati . Michael ' s sister , Fionna , a Site Registrar for Central Texas College , resides with her husband and kids in Fort Polk , Louisiana . His two brothers , Aposetolo Jr . , and Andrew , both reside in Corona , CA and are currently in the field of providing personnel security . Iupati bought his parents a home in Corona , California , after making it to the NFL . After a home game against Hawaii on October 17 , 2009 , Iupati met his future wife , Ashley Galeai , of Nampa , Idaho ; her cousin played for the Warriors . Ashley and Mike Iupati married in February 2012 , and have a son , KoaAli ' i ( born in August 2012 ) . The couple resides in south San Jose . Iupati ' s younger brother , Andrew , played defensive tackle for the Oregon Ducks from 2007 to 2009 , before transferring to Humboldt State , where he graduated in 2012 . Andrew Iupati went undrafted in 2012 , but attended San Francisco ’ s three - day rookie minicamp in May 2012 .