Junior (2018)
One of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation’s top linebacker … named honorable mention All-Conference USA … started all 12 contests … led UTSA with 113 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries, to go along with 62 solo stops and a pair of forced fumbles … his 113 tackles are second on UTSA’s single-season list behind his school-record 115 in 2016 … ranks second in school annals with 257 career tackles, 121 solo stops, third with 11.5 sacks and fourth with 22.5 TFL and 13 QB hurries … registered double-digit tackles in six contests … produced a season-high 14 tackles, 1.5 TFL, one sack and a QB pressure in the season finale against North Texas (Nov. 24) … had nine stops, 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage, two sacks and a forced fumble that was returned by Lorenzo Dantzler for a touchdown in the 25-21 victory over Texas State (Sept. 22) … opened the campaign with 10 tackles (eight solos) at Arizona State (Sept. 1) … had 13 stops in back-to-back weeks against Louisiana Tech (Oct. 13) and Southern Miss (Oct. 20) … registered 12 tackles at Marshall (Nov. 17) … had 10 stops, including 1.5 TFL, versus FIU (Nov. 10).
Sophomore (2017)
Registered 29 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in eight games (seven starts) … added three quarterback hurries, a pair of pass breakups and one fumble recovery return for a touchdown for a defense that led Conference USA in seven statistical categories and ranked in the top 10 nationally in five … missed three full games and most of a fourth due to an injury in the first quarter of the 20-7 win against Rice (Oct. 21) … posted a season-high eight tackles, including one TFL, against North Texas (Oct. 14) … had seven stops versus Southern Miss (Oct. 7) … recorded five tackles, one QB hurry and a PBU and returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown in the 44-14 rout of Texas State (Sept. 23) … had a pair of stops, including a half-sack, in the 17-10 season-opening triumph at Baylor (Sept. 9).
Redshirt Freshman (2016)
Earned Freshman All-America, Conference USA Freshman of the Year, first-team all-league and C-USA All-Freshman Team accolades … played in all 13 games and started 12 contests after making the transition from defensive end in the spring … racked up a program single-season record 115 tackles (50 solos) to go along with nine TFLs, six sacks, seven QB hurries and an interception … ranked second among Football Bowl Subdivision freshmen in tackles … opened his career with 13 stops and a pair of sacks against Alabama State (Sept. 3) … just missed the school’s single-game mark when he registered 15 tackles at Old Dominion (Sept. 24) … added another 12 against Southern Miss (Oct. 8) en route to C-USA Defensive Player of the Week accolades, 11 more against New Mexico in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16) and another 10 at Rice (Oct. 15).
Freshman (2015)
Redshirted … C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member.
Prior To UTSA
Earned numerous accolades during his prep career … tabbed honorable mention all-state, named the District 6-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player and also was a first-team all-district choice at fullback/tight end as a senior … named the District 5-4A Defensive MVP after registering 75 tackles and a team-leading eight sacks as a junior … named the district’s Newcomer of the Year following his sophomore campaign … coached by Michael Young.
Personal
Born March 5, 1997 … son of Chloe and Siolo Tauaefa … graduated in December 2018 with a degree in communication.
One of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation’s top linebacker … named honorable mention All-Conference USA … started all 12 contests … led UTSA with 113 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries, to go along with 62 solo stops and a pair of forced fumbles … his 113 tackles are second on UTSA’s single-season list behind his school-record 115 in 2016 … ranks second in school annals with 257 career tackles, 121 solo stops, third with 11.5 sacks and fourth with 22.5 TFL and 13 QB hurries … registered double-digit tackles in six contests … produced a season-high 14 tackles, 1.5 TFL, one sack and a QB pressure in the season finale against North Texas (Nov. 24) … had nine stops, 3.5 behind the line of scrimmage, two sacks and a forced fumble that was returned by Lorenzo Dantzler for a touchdown in the 25-21 victory over Texas State (Sept. 22) … opened the campaign with 10 tackles (eight solos) at Arizona State (Sept. 1) … had 13 stops in back-to-back weeks against Louisiana Tech (Oct. 13) and Southern Miss (Oct. 20) … registered 12 tackles at Marshall (Nov. 17) … had 10 stops, including 1.5 TFL, versus FIU (Nov. 10).
Sophomore (2017)
Registered 29 tackles, two tackles for loss and a sack in eight games (seven starts) … added three quarterback hurries, a pair of pass breakups and one fumble recovery return for a touchdown for a defense that led Conference USA in seven statistical categories and ranked in the top 10 nationally in five … missed three full games and most of a fourth due to an injury in the first quarter of the 20-7 win against Rice (Oct. 21) … posted a season-high eight tackles, including one TFL, against North Texas (Oct. 14) … had seven stops versus Southern Miss (Oct. 7) … recorded five tackles, one QB hurry and a PBU and returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown in the 44-14 rout of Texas State (Sept. 23) … had a pair of stops, including a half-sack, in the 17-10 season-opening triumph at Baylor (Sept. 9).
Redshirt Freshman (2016)
Earned Freshman All-America, Conference USA Freshman of the Year, first-team all-league and C-USA All-Freshman Team accolades … played in all 13 games and started 12 contests after making the transition from defensive end in the spring … racked up a program single-season record 115 tackles (50 solos) to go along with nine TFLs, six sacks, seven QB hurries and an interception … ranked second among Football Bowl Subdivision freshmen in tackles … opened his career with 13 stops and a pair of sacks against Alabama State (Sept. 3) … just missed the school’s single-game mark when he registered 15 tackles at Old Dominion (Sept. 24) … added another 12 against Southern Miss (Oct. 8) en route to C-USA Defensive Player of the Week accolades, 11 more against New Mexico in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl (Dec. 16) and another 10 at Rice (Oct. 15).
Freshman (2015)
Redshirted … C-USA Commissioner's Honor Roll member.
Prior To UTSA
Earned numerous accolades during his prep career … tabbed honorable mention all-state, named the District 6-5A Defensive Most Valuable Player and also was a first-team all-district choice at fullback/tight end as a senior … named the District 5-4A Defensive MVP after registering 75 tackles and a team-leading eight sacks as a junior … named the district’s Newcomer of the Year following his sophomore campaign … coached by Michael Young.
Personal
Born March 5, 1997 … son of Chloe and Siolo Tauaefa … graduated in December 2018 with a degree in communication.