Graham-Kapowsin legend selected in first round of 2026 NFL Draft
The road-grading giant from Graham-Kapowsin is officially a pro.
Vega Ioane (full name Olaivavega), who anchored the offensive line of one of the most dominant high school football teams in Washington state history at Graham-Kapowsin in 2021 before going on to play college football at Penn State, was drafted in the first round of Thursday night’s 2026 NFL Draft in Pittsburgh.
Ioane was selected by the Baltimore Ravens with the 14th pick.
A 6-foot-4, 330-pound lineman, Ioane started 11 games at left guard for Penn State in 2025 and was a first-team All-Big Ten selection and a second-team Associated Press All-American.
Ioane played left tackle for Eric Kurle’s Graham-Kapowsin, protecting quarterback Joshua Wood and leading the Eagles to the 2021 Class 4A state championship. Graham-Kapowsin went 14-0 that season, beating Lake Stevens 44-7 in the state championship game and winning its games in Washington by an average margin of 41 points.
Graham-Kapowsin went on to win a postseason game against Georgia 7A state champion Collins Hill — which featured a young Travis Hunter — in Las Vegas in the GEICO State Champions bowl series game, capping off a 15-0 season and putting 2021 Graham-Kapowsin in the conversation of the best teams to ever come out of Washington.
Ioane is considered a plug-and-play interior offensive line starter by draft analysts.
“Ioane is among the highest-floor players in the class, with power, athleticism and dependability,” ESPN’s Field Yates wrote in his mock draft.
This story was originally published April 23, 2026 at 6:33 PM with the headline "Graham-Kapowsin legend selected in first round of 2026 NFL Draft."
