Toa Taua
| No. 35 – Michigan Panthers | |
|---|---|
| Position: | Running back |
| Personal information | |
| Born: | February 15, 2000 Lompoc, California, U.S. |
| Height: | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 218 lb (99 kg) |
| Career information | |
| High school: | Lompoc |
| College: | Nevada (2018–2022) |
| NFL draft: | 2023: undrafted |
| Career history | |
| |
| Roster status: | Active |
| Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Toa Taua (born February 15, 2000)[1] is an American professional football running back for the Michigan Panthers of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Nevada.
Early life
Taua was born in Lompoc, California, as one of six children to Faletui and Taua Taua. He attended high school in Lompoc where he played outside linebacker and running back from 2014 to 2017 with the Lompoc Braves.[2] Taua totaled 73 touchdowns including 26 touchdowns made in his senior year. He also totaled as many as 200 career tackles.[3] In his junior year, Taua earned the 2016 All-Area MVP award. He also became a three-time Los Padres League MVP winner.[4] Rated a four-star recruitment prospect, Taua received as many as ten scholarship offers.[5]
College career
Taua committed to the University of Nevada and joined the field in 2018. As a freshman running back with the Nevada Wolf Pack, Taua played in all 13 games. During his freshman season, Taua led the Wolf Pack with 872 rushing yards and placed second with six rushing touchdowns. During his junior season in 2020, Taua earned All-Mountain West Second Team honors and was on pre-season watchlists to receive the Doak Walker and Paul Hornung Awards. During his senior season in 2021, Taua played in all 13 games, finishing with a season total of six rushing touchdowns. In his fifth and final year at Nevada, Taua started in 11 of 12 games and earned an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention. While at Nevada, Taua was a General studies major.[3] Taua entered the 2023 NFL draft.[1]
Statistics
| Year | Team | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yards | Avg | TD | Rec | Yards | Avg | TD | ||
| 2018 | Nevada | 13 | 4 | 178 | 872 | 4.9 | 6 | 22 | 202 | 9.2 | 1 |
| 2019 | Nevada | 13 | 10 | 196 | 807 | 4.1 | 6 | 30 | 185 | 6.2 | 0 |
| 2020 | Nevada | 8 | 8 | 114 | 675 | 5.9 | 4 | 31 | 214 | 6.9 | 1 |
| 2021 | Nevada | 13 | 13 | 150 | 730 | 4.9 | 6 | 39 | 296 | 7.6 | 1 |
| 2022 | Nevada | 12 | 9 | 217 | 911 | 4.2 | 11 | 41 | 295 | 7.2 | 1 |
| Career | 59 | 44 | 855 | 3,995 | 4.7 | 33 | 163 | 1,192 | 7.3 | 4 | |
Professional career
On May 1, 2023, Taua participated in the Philadelphia Eagles' team rookie minicamp.[6]
Taua signed with the Michigan Panthers and played his first game on June 10, 2023. He re-signed with the Panthers and played in two games during the 2024 season.[7][8]
On March 20, 2025, Taua was released by the Panthers and re-signed on April 10. He would later become a starting running back for the Panthers. [9][10]
USFL/UFL career statistics
| Year | Team | League | Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GP | GS | Att | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | Rec | Yds | Avg | Lng | TD | |||
| 2023 | MICH | USFL | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | MICH | UFL | 2 | 0 | 8 | 26 | 3.3 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | MICH | 7 | 4 | 81 | 357 | 4.4 | 21 | 6 | 9 | 76 | 8.4 | 25 | 0 | |
| Career | 10 | 4 | 89 | 383 | 4.3 | 21 | 6 | 9 | 76 | 8.4 | 25 | 0 | ||
Personal life
Taua has two sisters named Lagi and Tasi. His older brother Vai Taua previously played college football at Nevada before signing with the Buffalo Bills and Seattle Seahawks during the 2011 and 2012 NFL seasons. Taua's brother Ainuu also played college football for the UCLA Bruins. Taua named Junior Seau as his sports hero.[3]
References
- ^ a b Sports Illustrated Profile. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ Recruitment Profile on HUDL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ a b c Nevada Wolf Pack Profile. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ Bailey, Joe June 9, 2020. Updated November 24, 2023. Santa Maria Times Sports News: "Player of the Decade: Toa Taua put together historic career at Lompoc High." on Santa Maria Times.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ Recruitment Profile on 247 Sports.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ Murray, Chris. May 1, 2023. Nevada Sports: "Nevada's Toa Taua gets rookie camp deal; full recap of Mountain West players at NFL draft. on Nevada Sports Net.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ Larsen, James. May 20, 2024. Pro Football News: "Michigan Panthers Lose Wes Hills, Re-Sign Toa Taua." Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ Profile on Football Database. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
- ^ "UFL Teams Finalize Rosters After Successful Training Camp". www.theufl.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
- ^ Larsen, James. "Michigan Panthers Lose RB Matt Colburn, Re-Sign Toa Taua". PFnewsroom.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.