SAN MATEO — It won’t be fun this fall for anyone forced to face Serra defensive end Nusi Malani.

The 18-year-old is a 6-foot-6, 270-pound behemoth with a team-oriented disruptive mindset in the trenches.

“I need to win the battle,” Malani said. “Just do your job and everything will fall in line.”

It’s been all work in the offseason after a 7-5 campaign that didn’t meet expectations following a state title in 2017.

“I feel like we were more prepared this summer mentally, physically and spiritually,” Malani said. “And I feel like we’re really going to get after it this year.”

Priorities in the weight room and on the field included conditioning, technique on engagements and get offs along with hand and hip movements.

“He’s obviously a big, physical player and will definitely be the heartbeat of our line,” Serra coach Patrick Walsh said. “He’s also emerged as one of our leaders and really cares about Serra football and has a good, strong voice with the team. That, combined with having a full summer in the weight room, he’s prepared to have a big year as a senior.”

College coaches already took notice, including Boise State, Colorado State, Hawaii and Utah State.

 
“A lot of coaches started hitting me up from the Mountain West,” Malani said.

He later heard from Nebraska, with a plan to visit in the middle of September, then Arizona State joined fellow Pac-12 member Colorado with a scholarship offer at the Sacramento State camp. BYU also offered.

No announcement is planned until after the season, but teammate Terence Loville, who also appears on the Bay Area Preps HQ Fab 40 list at No. 25, knows what coaches at the next level can expect.

“A physical giant,” Loville said. “But deep down he’s a really good man.”