Defensive star Joseph Malabuyoc extends football career with UBC

Today, CFC shines the spotlight on star linebacker and recent University of British Columbia commit, Joseph Malabuyoc. Joseph began his illustrious football career in the eighth grade with the Vancouver College Fighting Irish.

Joseph Malabuyoc

Positions:
Linebacker (Middle, Outside)

Height/Weight:
6’0, 230 lbs

Teams:
Hamilton Tiger Cats (CFL)
University of Hawaii Warriors (NCAA)
Vancouver College Fighting Irish (high school)

Commitment:
Commitment to University of British Columbia

Football Background and Awards:

When Joseph started his football career with the Vancouver College Fighting Irish, it was an eye opener yet a great opportunity.

“It was quite a learning experience but I had plenty of fun at the same time playing linebacker and fullback,” explains the defensive star, whose favourite position to play in junior varsity was the hybrid outside linebacker/defensive end position. “We had a great year and our team made it to the provincial finals.”

During his time there, Joseph won a junior varsity AAA Provincial championship with the team. Moreover, the Fighting Irish were Provincial Varsity AAA finalists twice. After his grade 10 year, the linebacker experienced a special opportunity with his teammates thanks to Fighting Irish head coach Todd Burnett.

“Todd Burnett, is an Eastern Washington Football Alumni so every summer my teammates and I would participate in their football camps,” says Joseph. “We participated in the team camps where NCAA coaches coached each high school team one by one.”

“At the end, we would scrimmage other schools from the Washington area.”

When the running backs and receivers got injured Burnett looked to Joseph to step in and fill in at those positions. While he did agree, the standout says he was nervous that he wouldn’t be able to compete against the American players.

On the first play of the game, quarterback Shea Emery passed the ball over to Joseph, who went seven yards for a first down. At that moment, he started to gain confidence.

“Then coach had me lined up as the right wideout and asked me to run a 15 yard post pattern,” adds the standout. “The ball was snapped and I ran the route, stuck my right foot in the ground and got in the window between the safety and corner where Shea hit me perfectly and I ran away from the two defenders and scored a touchdown.”

“After that moment, I knew I could play this game and excel in it if I dedicated myself, worked hard, and made many sacrifices.”

In his senior year with the Fighting Irish, the defensive standout won the Best Back Award at the Archbishop’s Cup game against Notre Dame. Furthermore, Joseph was selected as Western Conference defensive MVP and named a provincial all-star at season’s end.

While a lot of Canadian Interuniversity School (CIS) teams courted Joseph, he decided to try his luck with the NCAA’s University of Hawaii Warriors.

“I decided it was best to walk-on at the University of Hawaii because I wanted to continue playing American football,” comments the linebacker, who was recognized with a couple of scout player of the week awards while playing for the Warriors. ” Initially, I was playing safety because I was too light but as I got stronger and gained weight so I eventually moved to linebacker.”

After finishing his senior year in Hawaii, Joseph was invited to attend the Duane Forde Combine. Due to the successful display he showed at the event, the linebacker was inundated with several contract offers. After many deliberations, he signed with the Hamilton Tiger Cats of the Canadian Football League (CFL). During his time with the Tiger Cats, Joseph played middle linebacker. After he got injured while playing, the defensive star was released by the Tiger Cats.

Next Football Chapter:

After his release from the Tiger Cats, Joseph went back to Vancouver College to continue training and practicing with the hopes another CFL team would call. After an encounter with his former Fighting Irish defensive coordinator, Rob Kozikowski (now a Vancouver College principal), things changed for Joseph.

“He asked me if I would consider playing CIS football,” says the defensive star. “Despite the fact I thought I was too old, Coach Koz assured me that I may have one year of eligibility remaining to compete in the CIS.”

So he made a call to his good friend, coach Shaun Olsen, who contacted me and recruited me from there.”

By recently committing to the University of British Columbia (UBC), it allows him to remain in his home province.

“What better place to play football than to stay home where all your family and friends are, so it was an easy decision to commit to UBC,” comments the future Thunderbirds player. “Furthermore, Coach Olsen has the program going in the right direction and UBC is a well-known academic institution.”

“It also helps that I can come home to a home-cooked meal by mom and dad.”

Furthermore, the linebacker feels his faith may have played a part in how the next chapter of his career was going to unfold.

“I’m a big spiritual guy and I felt God was bringing me back home for a reason,” adds Joseph. “I felt there was a reason why I got injured and did not make it to the CFL last year.”

“I feel it is because he wants me to stay home and represent Vancouver.”

Football and Life Influences:

There have been many positive influences in Joseph’s life on and off the field.

The first one has been God for all the things he’s been blessed and fortunate to have in his life.

“Without him, nothing would have been possible and when life sometimes gets tough, he is someone I can always turn to,” comments the defensive star. “I am a very spiritual and definitely reading some biblical scriptures or attending church will guarantee lift my spirits up.”

“Although this may not be how I envisioned my football journey would be, I am very thankful and continue to walk by faith not by sight because I know everything happens for a reason and God has a plan for me.”

However, he would not be here today if it weren’t for his family; especially his parents and grandfather.

“They have always supported me and encouraged me to never be complacent but be humble and work hard for my goals,” says Joseph. ” Growing up, they use to work long hours and I would barely see them hours at a time and my parents working hard and making sacrifices to support our family absolutely rubbed off on me.”

“My late grandfather taught me a lot about respect; respect for women, for your elders, for being healthy, and just for not being hungry or homeless. He is someone I wished I could spend another day with.”

When he wa splaying in Hawaii, the linebacker says he was fortunate to have the support of his girlfriend and her family since his family were back home in British Columbia.

“They took care of me and always told me what I needed to hear and not what I wanted to hear,” comments the standout. “Also, they always brought me down to earth and be thankful.”

Becoming an elite defensive player would not have been possible without the instruction and guidance of the entire Fighting Irish coaching staff.

“My head coach Todd Burnett showed me why I needed to be passionate and work hard,” explains Joseph of his coaches. “Coach Kozikowski and Coach Pauls always challenged me and pushed me out of my comfort zone to reach mental and performance levels I never thought possible.”

“My old athletic trainer Rick Gazzola taught me how to enjoy life and is full of laughter; he would even open up the VC weight room for me when there was no school.”

Moreover, Joseph says he’s grateful for all the teachers who instructed him in the classroom over the years. He credits them for instilling proper studying habits, time and prioritization skills which helped him tackle his courses in university. There is one teacher in particular who had an impact on him.

“My teacher Andrew Prout-Burnett taught me that whatever I wanted in life, I had to work at it,” adds the linebacker. “If I wanted a better relationship with God I had to work at it or if I wanted to get stronger in the weight room I had to work at it.”

“Life is more fulfilling when you put in the work and pay the sacrifice to see your goals achieved than for your goals to be simply handed to you so I definitely strive to work for everything I have and ask never to be simply given anything.”

Former junior varsity football and track and field coach, Richard Collier played a major role in Joseph’s quest to play Division 1 football.

“A native of Hawaii, Coach Collier informed me of the strong walk-on program at Hawaii and what I had to do mentally to be able to compete and succeed,” says Joseph. “In the end, I felt I had a better opportunity playing at the University of Hawaii.”

Finally, the entire Warriors coaching staff and his strength coach have been a positive influence on Joseph’s style of play by motivating him to work harder to realize his gridiron dreams.

“They always challenged you to see if you had “it”,” explains the linebacker. “They would work us so hard into the ground to see if we would give up.”

“I learned that despite how goal oriented, accountable, self-motivated, and exact you are if the going gets tough and you give up, you never had “it” to begin with, so being resilient is something I definitely acquired.”

Future Academic/Career Goals:

When he steps foot onto the University of British Columbia campus, Joseph will try to work towards obtaining a Master’s degree in kinesiology. After completion of that, he hopes to get PhD in the field.

“I want to learn and experience everything the strength and conditioning field has to offer because it has helped me develop physically and mentally to compete with the best,” adds Joseph, who is of Filipino ethnicity.

As for future career goals, the linebacker would like to become strength and conditioning coach for a Division 1-A football program. Furthermore, he would like to have his own gym.

The game of football has given Joseph so many tool and skills which he uses to tackle all endeavours. Among the things he’s learned is goal-orientating and accountability.

“Instead of taking big steps towards your goal it is better to break that goal into little steps,” comments the defensive star. “Moreover, I have learned to be accountable; if I know I did not do my best I will admit it and never blame my surroundings.”

“I am very self-motivated; I want to be the best and I have sacrificed opportunities to hang with friends or relax on birthdays and spent time working out and getting better.”

In order for the linebacker to achieve his goals, Joseph looks at what is important for him to get to that goal. Additionally, resiliency is something else he’s acquired from playing the game.

“Before, I use to overdo many things such as weightlifting where I would over train and do more harm than good so I definitely make sure there is a reason behind everything I do,” explains Joseph. “In addition, I am very resilient.”

“I know life becomes quite unfair and difficult as you get older so one bump on the road will not harm my confidence and mindset.”

Overall, Joseph is appreciative to have the opportunity to play the game.

“Football has been such a blessing in disguise for me,” says Joseph. “Everything from team camaraderie, leadership, hard work, humbleness, to not being complacent I have learned and experienced through my football journey and I am forever grateful to play this game I love.”