Seau plans to honor ‘Uncle Junior’

Junior Seau played with a relentless motor and striking passion during his 20-year career as an NFL linebacker.

Similar qualities were on display last fall, when Liberty defensive end Kimo Seau was a fiery leader for the Patriots.

Kimo Seau, whose father, Patrick, was the late San Diego Chargers great’s first cousin, plans to dedicate his performance in Saturday’s 41st West Charleston Lions Club Charity All-Star Football Game to Junior Seau’s memory.

“It’s going to be huge, a huge opportunity,” Kimo Seau said. “I’ve got big shoes to fill, and I just hope I can do it for him. That’s my uncle, that’s family. I love him, I love my family; that’s all I can ask for. And I’m going to take this opportunity to just play my heart out for the Seau name, and play for Uncle Junior.”

Because proceeds from the game, which kicks off at 7 p.m. at Bishop Gorman, go to several charities and it’s the players’ final chance to wear their school helmets, the game is special to all seniors.

But there will be even more significance for Kimo Seau, who will switch to a No. 55 Sunrise Region jersey as a tribute to Junior Seau. Kimo wore No. 7 during the high school season and No. 45 in recent practices.

“It’s a deeper meaning for me because it’s my uncle, because he passed, so yeah, I’m changing my number to 55 because of him,” Kimo Seau said. “Hopefully I can represent his number and represent our last name.”

Junior Seau was found dead in his Oceanside, Calif., home May 2 with a gunshot wound to the chest. On May 3, the San Diego County medical examiner’s office classified the death of the 12-time Pro Bowler as a suicide.

Kimo Seau was close to Junior Seau’s family, especially his son Tyler. A former linebacker at Division II Delta State (Miss.), Tyler shared offseason workouts with Kimo.

“All of the stuff he taught his son, his son taught me and all my cousins, so we’re real close,” Kimo Seau said.

Kimo Seau has made his own name.

The 6-foot-2-inch, 240-pound defensive end was a three-year starter for Liberty, which has won two straight Sunrise Region championships.

As a senior, Kimo Seau racked up 50½ tackles, 10 sacks and one interception on his way to second-team all-state honors. He plans to play at American River College, a junior college power in Sacramento, Calif., that went 11-0 last season.

“His emotion kind of got the kids going,” said Liberty coach Rich Muraco, who will coach the Sunrise team against the Sunset. “I look at next year’s team, (and) that’s one of the things that I’m kind of struggling with right now, is finding those emotional leaders like Kimo.

“He’s a great player, but an even better kid. He’s just very respectful, very modest, doesn’t walk around with a big head or anything. I’m going to miss him for sure next year.”