Justus Tavai Season 2022

Final Bio

HONORS
* 2023 Mountain West Scholar-Athlete
* 2023 Mountain West Fall All-Academic Team

Joined the Aztecs in January for the 2022 spring season ... Big body with five years of collegiate experience, including four at the FBS level ... Younger brother, Jonah, was a fellow senior defensive lineman with the program.

^SENIOR SEASON (2022)
Was named to the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award ... Also is listed as the “top newcomer” by Lindy’s Sports and a “key transfer” by Athlon Sports ... Is listed as “SDSU’s No. 7 player” by Athlon Sports and a “SDSU player to watch” by Lindy’s Sports ... Had 38 tackles (17 solo), including 3.5 sacks, five tackles for loss, an interception, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry in 13 starts ...  Came up with five tackles (two solo), including a 6-yard sack (and TFL), in his first start as an Aztec against Arizona on Sept. 3, in 53 snaps ... Had an assisted tackle and a quarterback hurry in another start vs. Idaho State on Sept. 10 across 46 snaps ... Came up with five tackles (four solo) in 47 snaps in a start at No. 14/15 Utah on Sept. 17 ... Made a solo stop in 55 snaps vs. Toledo on Sept. 24 ... Did not record a stat in 12 snaps in a start at Boise State, exiting early with an injury ... Logged four tackles (one solo) against his former team, Hawai’i, on Oct. 8 in a start across 36 snaps ... Recorded his first career interception and added a pass breakup in a start and 39 snaps at Nevada on Oct. 22 ... Had a pair of tackles (one solo), including 0.5 sacks (and 0.5 TFL), in a start and 51 snaps at Fresno State on Oct. 29 ... Had a pair of tackles (one solo) in 41 snaps vs. UNLV on Nov. 5 ... Registered three tackles (two solo) in 37 defensive snaps against San José State on Nov. 12 ... Had five tackles (two solo) with an 11-yard sack and a career-high 2.5 tackles for loss in a start and 36 snaps at New Mexico on Nov. 18 ... The five tackles matched a season high ... Had five tackles (one solo) in a start and 59 snaps vs. Air Force on Nov. 26, matching a season high for a second straight game ... Came up with five tackles (two solo), including a 6-yard sack (and TFL), in a start and 61 snaps vs. Middle Tennessee in the Hawai’i Bowl on Dec. 24.

AT HAWAI'I (2018-21)
Joins the Aztecs after spending the last four seasons at fellow Mountain West foe Hawai’i … Appeared in 25 games over that span (2019-21), logging 19 starts after redshirting the 2018 campaign … Totaled 72 tackles (40 solo), including 10 tackles for loss and four sacks, along with three pass breakups, three fumble recoveries and a forced fumble … Had 34 tackles (19 solo) last year, playing all 13 games with 12 starts, while adding five tackles for loss, a sack, three quarterback hurries, two fumble recoveries and a pass breakup … Had 35 tackles (18 solo) in 2020, starting seven times and playing in all nine games, while adding four tackles for loss, two sacks, two PBUs, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery … Played in three games off the bench in 2019, making two tackles with a sack … Redshirted his first year with the Rainbow Warriors in 2018.

AT EL CAMINO COLLEGE (2017)
Played one season at El Camino College in Torrance, Calif. … Played all 11 games, earning second-team all-league honors after recording 41 tackles (26 solo), 2.5 sacks and a forced fumble, leading ECC to a win over Palomar College in the Beach Bowl.

HIGH SCHOOL
Prepped at Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif., where he earned three letters … Amassed 83 tackles, 10 tackles for loss and five sacks as a senior in 2016 … Tallied 72 tackles and two sacks in eight games as a junior … Also was a standout rugby player, helping MCHS to a pair of league titles and a spot in the 2016 national championship in Charlotte, N.C. … Was a member of the 2015 USA Rugby team that competed in France and Belgium … Was a two-star recruit by Rivals.

PERSONAL
Son of William and Nafuana Tavai ... Brother, Jonah, is a two-time all-Mountain West defensive tackle at San Diego State … Has three other brothers that also played Division I football, including Jahlani (Hawai’i, now with New England Patriots), Jordan (Kansas) and J.R. (USC, once played for Tennessee Titans).

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 7 vs. San Diego State (11/6/21)
Tackles For Loss: 2.5 at New Mexico (11/18/22)
Sacks: 1.0, six times
Interceptions: 1 at Nevada (10/22/22)
Pass Breakups: 1, four times
Forced Fumbles: 1 vs. New Mexico (11/7/20)
Fumble Recoveries: 1 vs. Colorado State (11/20/21), at Oregon State (9/11/21), vs. UNLV (12/12/20)