Vai Kaho Season 2023

Pronounced VYE Caw-Ho ... Hard-hitting linebacker who is has bided his time working behind veteran linebackers ... Is excellent against the run ... Enters the 2023 season as the projected starting ‘Will’ linebacker.

SENIOR SEASON (2023)
Played in 11 games with five starts ... Recorded 23 tackles (10 solo) with seven quarterback hurries ... Came off the bench to play 47 snaps against Ohio on Aug. 26, making two solo tackles ... Appeared off the bench to play 56 snaps against Idaho State on Sept. 2, making two solo tackles ... Also recorded two quarterback hurries ... Came off the bench against UCLA on Sept. 9, recording a season-high four tackles in 33 defensive snaps ... Also logged his third quarterback hurry of the year ... Played 22 snaps off the bench at No. 16/17 Oregon State on Sept. 16 ... Made one solo tackle ...  Made his first start of the season in the conference opener against Boise State on Sept. 22 ... Recorded a pair of tackles (one solo) and a quarterback hurry in 25 defensive snaps ... Made his second straight start at Air Force on Sept. 30 ... Totaled three tackles (one solo), including 0.5 tackles for loss ... His assisted TFL went for a loss of a yard as part of three straight Aztec TFLs on Air Force’s opening drive ... Started his third consecutive game at Hawai’i on Oct. 14 ... Recorded two tackles (one solo) and a quarterback hurry ... Started against Nevada on Oct. 21 ... Made two assisted tackles ... Also recorded his seventh quarterback hurry ... Made two assisted tackles at Colorado State on Nov. 11 ... Had one tackle at San Jose State on Nov. 18 ... Also recorded a quarterback hurry ... Returned to the starting lineup in the season finale against Fresno State on Nov. 25 ... Recorded one tackle.

JUNIOR SEASON (2022)
Played in 11 of the team’s 13 games ... Had 10 tackles (seven solo) with one for a loss ... Played in 113 snaps on defense ... Played five snaps in the opener with Arizona on Sept. 3 but did not record a stat ... Played 14 statless snaps vs. Idaho State on Sept. 10 ... Did not play at No. 14/15 Utah on Sept. 17 or vs. Toledo on Sept. 24 ... Had a solo tackle in three snaps off the bench at Boise State on Sept. 30 ... Had another solo stop in 11 snaps against Hawai’i on Oct. 8 ... Had an assisted tackle in 18 snaps at Nevada on Oct. 22 ... Played four statless snaps at Fresno State on Oct. 29 ... Had an assisted stop vs. UNLV on Nov. 5 in four snaps ... Recorded a solo tackle in another four snaps vs. San Jose State on Nov. 12 ... Played three snaps without recording a stat at New Mexico on Nov. 18 ... Had a career-high five tackles (four solo) with a tackle for loss in a career-high 33 snaps vs. Air Force on Nov. 26 ... Played 14 snaps without recording a stat vs. Middle Tennessee in the EasyPost Hawai’i Bowl on Dec. 24.

SOPHOMORE SEASON (2021)
Played in 12 of the team’s 14 games with one start ... Logged four tackles (three solo), including one tackle for loss ... Mostly played on special teams with his 59 defensive snaps coming over just three games ... Did not play in the opener with New Mexico State on Sept. 4 ... Logged special teams snaps in each of the next two games ... Had a solo tackle against Towson in 13 snaps on Sept. 25 ... Logged another tackle, which went down as a tackle for loss, vs. New Mexico in two snaps on Oct. 9 ... Played on special teams at San Jose State (Oct. 15) ... Earned his first career start at Air Force on Oct. 23, where he made a pair of tackles (one solo) in career-high 44 snaps ... Played statless time on special teams vs. Fresno State on Oct. 30 ... Did not play at Hawai’i on Nov. 6 ... Played on special teams over the final five games of the season without recording a stat.

FRESHMAN (TRUE) SEASON (2020)
Played in seven games in his first season at San Diego State on special teams ... Did not record a stat ... Made the travel roster for the opener against UNLV on Oct. 24 but did not play ... Made his collegiate debut on special teams the following week at Utah State (Oct. 31) without finding the statsheet ... Then played statless ball on special teams the rest of the season.

HIGH SCHOOL
Was a three-year letter winner at Bishop Manogue High School in Reno, Nev. … Played with fellow 2020 signee Joey Wright … Led the Miners to a pair of regional championships and a state runner-up finish in 2018 with an 11-4 record … Bishop Manogue HS was 20-8 over his final two seasons … Was a second-team all-state selection … Was a first-team all-section and all-league pick … An athlete who played linebacker, running back, wide receiver, tight end, quarterback and punter at BMHS … According to MaxPreps, totaled 134 tackles for his final two years, including 29 tackles for loss, six sacks, three fumble recoveries, two forced fumbles, two interceptions and two pass breakups … Also ran for 204 yards on just 21 carries (9.7 avg.) with three touchdowns and caught 15 passes for 186 yards (12.4 avg.) and three touchdowns … Also played basketball and lacrosse … Brother, Ale, plays linebacker at Alabama … A consensus three-star recruit by Rivals, 247sports and ESPN … Received a scout grade of 85 by 247sports and is listed as the sixth-best recruit in the state of Nevada … Also listed with a scout grade of 75 by ESPN and the seventh-best recruit in Nevada.

PERSONAL
Kahomovailahi (Vai) Kaho was born July 29, 2002, in Reno, Nev. ... Son of Hopate Kaho and Lusiola Tuamoheloa ... Picked San Diego State over offers from Colorado, Tennessee, Brigham Young, Nevada, New Mexico, UNLV, Utah State and Sacramento State ... Is undecided on a major.

SINGLE-GAME BESTS
Tackles: 5 vs. Air Force (11/26/22)
Tackles For Loss: 1.0 vs. Air Force (11/26/22), vs. New Mexico (10/9/21)