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Toa Taua

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Toa Taua
Taua with the Columbus Aviators in 2026
No. 35 – Columbus Aviators
PositionRunning back
Roster statusActive
Personal information
Born (2000-02-15) February 15, 2000 (age 26)
Lompoc, California, U.S.
Listed height5 ft 8 in (1.73 m)
Listed weight225 lb (102 kg)
Career information
High schoolLompoc (CA)
CollegeNevada (2018–2022)
NFL draft2023: undrafted
Career history
* Offseason or practice squad member only
Awards and highlights
Career USFL / UFL statistics as of 2025
GP / GS10 / 4
Rushing yards383
Rush avg.4.3
Touchdowns6
Receiving yards76
Rec. avg.8.4

Toa Taua (born February 15, 2000)[1] is an American professional football running back for the Columbus Aviators of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football for the Nevada Wolf Pack.

Early life

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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

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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

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Year Team Games Rushing Receiving
GPGSAttYardsAvgTDRecYardsAvgTD
2018Nevada 1341788724.96222029.21
2019Nevada 13101968074.16301856.20
2020Nevada 881146755.94312146.91
2021Nevada 13131507304.96392967.61
2022Nevada 1292179114.211412957.21
Career59448553,9954.7331631,1927.34

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand spanWingspan40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
5 ft 8+1⁄2 in
(1.74 m)		204 lb
(93 kg)		28+1⁄4 in
(0.72 m)		9+1⁄4 in
(0.23 m)		5 ft 10+5⁄8 in
(1.79 m)		4.69 s1.63 s2.75 s4.44 s7.40 s32.5 in
(0.83 m)		9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		20 reps
All values from Pro Day[6]

On May 1, 2023, Taua participated in the Philadelphia Eagles' team rookie minicamp.[7]

Michigan Panthers

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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.[8][9]

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.[10][11]

Cleveland Browns

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On July 26, 2025, Taua signed with the Cleveland Browns.[12] On August 21, Taua was waived by the Browns.[13]

Michigan Panthers (second stint)

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On September 18, 2025, Taua re-signed with the Panthers.[14]

Columbus Aviators

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On January 13, 2026, Taua was selected by the Columbus Aviators in the 2026 UFL draft.[15]

USFL/UFL career statistics

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Year Team League Games Rushing Receiving
GPGSAttYdsAvgLngTDRecYdsAvgLngTD
2023MICHUSFL 10000.000000.000
2024MICHUFL 208263.3120000.000
2025MICH 74813574.42169768.4250
2026CLB 103653114.822315926.1170
Career2071546944.5229241687.0250

Personal life

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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

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  1. 1 2 Sports Illustrated Profile. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  2. ↑ Recruitment Profile on HUDL.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  3. 1 2 3 Nevada Wolf Pack Profile. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  4. ↑ Bailey, Joe (June 10, 2020). "Player of the Decade: Toa Taua put together historic career at Lompoc High". Santa Maria Times. Retrieved June 14, 2026.
  5. ↑ Recruitment Profile on 247 Sports.com. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Toa Taua College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved June 13, 2026.
  7. ↑ 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.
  8. ↑ Larsen, James. May 20, 2024. Pro Football News: "Michigan Panthers Lose Wes Hills, Re-Sign Toa Taua." Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  9. ↑ Profile on Football Database. Retrieved March 8, 2025.
  10. ↑ "UFL Teams Finalize Rosters After Successful Training Camp". www.theufl.com. Retrieved March 21, 2025.
  11. ↑ Larsen, James. "Michigan Panthers Lose RB Matt Colburn, Re-Sign Toa Taua". PFnewsroom.com. Retrieved April 11, 2025.
  12. ↑ "Browns sign RB Toa Taua". ClevelandBrowns.com. July 28, 2025.
  13. ↑ "Browns sign WR Chase Cota, LB Marvin Moody and LB Charlie Thomas III". Cleveland Browns. August 21, 2025. Retrieved August 21, 2025.
  14. ↑ Heilman, Michael (September 18, 2025). "Report: Michigan Panthers re-sign RB Toa Taua, three others". BGMSportsTrax. Retrieved September 18, 2025.
  15. ↑ "Day One of the 2026 UFL Draft Delivers Immediate Impact and Familiar Faces". www.theufl.com. Retrieved January 14, 2026.
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