Nevada
A candidate for Western Athletic Conference Defensive Player of the Year ... Is considered one of the top linebackers on the West Coast ... Will take over at the middle linebacker spot in Nevada’s 4-3 defensive scheme after two years as an inside backer in the 3-4 scheme ... Was named Preseason All-WAC first-team by Blue Ribbon College Football Yearbook ... Has also been named to the first team of Phil Steele’s Preseason All-WAC team ... Is on Athlon Sports’ second-team Preseason All-WAC squad ... Named to the Preseason All-WAC first-team by Lindy’s and The Sporting News.

2007: Named a co-captain prior to the season, a rare honor for a junior at Nevada ... Was en route to a monster season before suffering a knee injury in the first half against Utah State and missing final five games of the year ... Was cleared to play in the New Mexico Bowl and he came back to lead the team with 11 tackles, including one for a loss, and a forced fumble ... Despite missing just over half the season, finished tied for second on the team in tackles with 82, a per-game average of more than 10 ... Recorded four tackles for a loss, including a sack ... Also broke up three passes on the year.

2006: Followed up solid freshman campaign with a stellar sophomore season ... Was second on the team with 56 tackles after moving from outside linebacker to the inside ... Had a career-best 10 tackles against Boise State ... Forced fumbles against UNLV and New Mexico State ... Recovered fumbles against New Mexico State and Louisiana Tech ... Recovered first career interception against UNLV and picked off another pass at Louisiana Tech ... Made his third career interception in the MPC Computers Bowl against Miami ... Had 2.5 tackles for a loss.

2005: Earned honorable-mention Freshman All-America honors from the Sporting News...Played in all 12 games as a true freshman ... Started at outside linebacker in nine games ... Turned in 32 tackles on the year ... Had 6.0 tackles for loss and a pair of sacks ... Also broke up two passes and forced a fumble ... Turned in a season-high five tackles at San Jose State and again vs. then-No. 16 Fresno State.

High School
A graduate of Churchill County High School in Fallon, Nev. ... Was named the 2004 High Desert League Defensive Player of the Year ... Earned all-state and all-region honors ... Was an all-league running back as a junior and senior ... Was also the top-ranked heavyweight wrestler in the state of Nevada ... Two-time academic all-state honoree.

Personal
Born June 20, 1987 ... Parents are Matua and Esther Mauga ... Majoring in business ... Enjoys spending time with his family.

Career Statistics