Ed Ta'amu

{{Infobox NFL biography

| image =

| image_size =

| caption =

| number = 75

| position = Offensive lineman

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1979|11|8}}

| birth_place = Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

| height_ft = 6

| height_in = 1

| weight_lbs = 380

| high_school = ʻIolani
(Honolulu, Hawaii)

| college = Utah

| draftyear = 2002

| draftround = 4

| draftpick = 132

| pastteams =

Minnesota Vikings ({{NFL Year|2002}})*
Houston Texans ({{NFL Year|2003}})*
Utah Blaze ({{AFL Year|2006}})*
Spokane Shock ({{Af2 Year|2006}})
Kansas City Brigade ({{AFL Year|2007}}–{{AFL Year|2008}})
Spokane Shock ({{AFL Year|2010}})
Utah Blaze ({{AFL Year|2011|2012}})
Los Angeles KISS ({{AFL Year|2015}})
Portland Thunder ({{AFL Year|2015}})

| status =

| highlights =

2× All-Mountain West selection (2000{{cite web |url=http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/112800aaa.html |title=Ute Football Team's 2000 Season Comes To A Close |work=UtahUtes.CSTV.com |publisher=University of Utah |date=November 28, 2000 |accessdate=October 22, 2008}} - 2001)
2× Las Vegas Bowl champion (1999,{{cite web |url=http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/062600aab.html |title=1999 Results |work=UtahUtes.CSTV.com |publisher=University of Utah |accessdate=October 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071219074148/http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/archive/062600aab.html |archive-date=December 19, 2007 |url-status=dead }} 2001{{cite web |url=http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/recaps/010202aaa.html |title=Utes Winners In Vegas! |date=December 25, 2001 |accessdate=October 22, 2008}})
First Team All-Arena (2010)

| afl = 10124

}}

Ed Ta'amu (born November 8, 1979) is an American former professional football offensive lineman. He was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the fourth round of the 2002 NFL draft. He played college football at Utah.

Ta'amu was also a member of the Houston Texans, Spokane Shock, Kansas City Brigade, Utah Blaze, Los Angeles KISS and Portland Thunder.

As a rookie in the National Football League in 2002, he was one of 28 Samoan players in the league.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/gen/s/2002/0528/1387810.html |title=Samoan football players in the NFL |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |date=May 28, 2002 |access-date=October 22, 2008}} As well, as of October 4, 2008, he was one of 16 Polynesian players in the Arena Football League.{{cite web |url=http://aigafoundation.blogspot.com/ |title=AIGA Foundation Polynesian Football News and Notes |last=Markham |first=Makani |accessdate=October 22, 2008}}

Early life

Ta'amu attended Iolani School where he was an All-America Honorable Menchin as a senior in 1997.

College career

Ta'amu attended the University of Utah, where he was a two-year starter. Ta'amu was an academic non-qualifier in 1997, meaning he did not have the grades to play football. He joined the team in 1998, as a backup defensive end, as well as backup long snapper.{{cite web |url=http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/092298aaa.html |title=Weekly Football Release |work=UtahUtes.CSTV.com |publisher=University of Utah |date=September 21, 1998 |accessdate=October 22, 2008}} On the season, he recorded three tackles. In 1999, he was a backup defensive tackle, a position where he did not receive much playing time, so in turn, he was switched to offensive line. In 2000, he started all but one game.

=Career summary=

Ta'amu was a two-time All-Mountain West Conference selection. He recorded 123 knockdowns blocks, including a school record 25 against Brigham Young during his senior season.{{cite web |url=http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/011502aaa.html |title=Utah Football Team Best In Nation In Sacks Allowed |work=UtahUtes.CSTV.com |publisher=University of Utah |date=January 15, 2002 |accessdate=October 22, 2008}}

Ta'amu was graded at 86.8% for blocking consistency and played in 20 of 26 games during his final two seasons. He also set new school weight room records with a 625-pound squat and 412-pound hang clean.{{cite web |url=http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/spec-rel/042202aaa.html |title=Redskins Draft Russell In Third Round, Vikings Take Ta'amu In Fourth |work=UtahUtes.CSTV.com |publisher=University of Utah |date=April 22, 2002 |accessdate=October 22, 2008}} As a senior, he also bench pressed 455 pounds. He was also selected to the All-Mountain West Conference Second-team, as well as a First-team selection by the Las Vegas Review-Journal and Collegefootballnews.com.

Professional career

=Pre-draft=

Ta'amu received an invitation to the 2002 NFL Scouting Combine.{{cite web |url=http://www.nfldraftscout.com/ratings/dsprofile.php?pyid=60107&draftyear=2002&genpos=OG |title=Ed Ta''amu, DS #6 OG, Utah |work=NFLDraftScout.com |accessdate=October 22, 2008}} He was rated as the sixth best guard out of 43. He was projected to be drafted in the third to fourth round of the draft.

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 1+3/4

| weight = 335

| dash = 5.30

| ten split = 1.83

| twenty split = 3.04

| shuttle =

| cone drill =

| vertical = 29

| broad ft =

| broad in =

| bench = 28

| wonderlic =

| arm span =

| hand span =

| note = All values from NFL Combine{{cite web|title=2019 Draft Scout: QB Rankings|url=http://draftscout.com/players.php?GenPos=QB&DraftYear=2019&sortorder=TSXPos&order=ASC}}

}}

=Minnesota Vikings=

Ta'amu was selected in the fourth round (132nd overall) of the 2002 NFL draft by the Minnesota Vikings on April 21,{{Cite web |title=2002 NFL Draft Listing |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/years/2002/draft.htm |access-date=2023-03-18 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}{{cite web|url=http://www.vikings.com/TeamRosterMoves.aspx |title=Vikings: Roster Moves |work=Vikings.com |publisher=Minnesota Vikings |accessdate=October 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20081211080748/http://www.vikings.com/TeamRosterMoves.aspx |archivedate=December 11, 2008 }} and was signed on July 17. However, he suffered a knee injury and was waived by the team on September 2, 2002.{{cite web |url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/team/transactions/_/name/min/minnesota-vikings |title=Minnesota Vikings Transactions - 2002 |work=ESPN.com |publisher=ESPN |access-date=October 22, 2008}} The next day, he was signed to the Vikings practice squad. Then on October 16, he was placed on the practice squad's injured reserve, ending his season.

=Houston Texans=

He was then signed by the Houston Texans on January 8.{{cite web|url=http://www.houstontexans.com/news/transactions2003.asp |title=2003 Transactions |work=HoustonTexans.com |publisher=Houston Texans |accessdate=October 22, 2008 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404025024/http://www.houstontexans.com/news/transactions2003.asp |archivedate=April 4, 2008 }} He was later placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list on July 25. He was then waived by the Texans on September 2, 2003.

=Utah Blaze (first stint)=

Ta'amu spent the next two years rehabbing his knee before being able to compete. He was signed to the practice squad of the Utah Blaze of the Arena Football League (AFL) on May 3, 2006. He was released on May 22, 2006.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=112 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=Arenafan.com | accessdate=June 12, 2024}}

=Spokane Shock (first stint)=

On May 25, 2006, it was reported that Ta'amu had been assigned to the Spokane Shock of the af2.{{cite web | url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/577113564/?match=1&clipping_id=149229615 | title=Football | publisher=The Spokesman-Review | date=May 25, 2006 | accessdate=June 12, 2024}} He played alongside future Kansas City Brigade teammates Charles Frederick, Jerome Stevens, Chris Cook, and Neil Purvis. That season, the Shock won ArenaCup III.

=Kansas City Brigade=

On January 5, 2007, Ta'amu signed with the Kansas City Brigade of the AFL.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=115 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=Arenafan.com | accessdate=June 12, 2024}} As a rookie in 2007, he began the season on injured reserve. He then started the final four games of the season, including the first ever playoff game in franchise history. In 2008, he recorded three tackles. After the season, he was released by the Brigade.{{cite web |url=http://www.kcbrigade.com/viewstory.cfm?id=242 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081023152430/http://www.kcbrigade.com/viewstory.cfm?id=242 |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 23, 2008 |title=2009 AFL Free Agency - A complete list of 2009 AFL free agents and their 2008 teams: KANSAS CITY BRIGADE |work=KCBrigade.com |publisher=Arena Football League |date=October 6, 2008 |accessdate=October 22, 2008 }}

=Spokane Shock (second stint)=

After a year of waiting, the AFL was reformed and when the Shock became part of the revamped AFL. Ta'amu was assigned to the Shock during the off season on March 12, 2010.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=149 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=Arenafan.com | accessdate=June 12, 2024}}

=Utah Blaze (second stint)=

Ta'amu was assigned to the Blaze on April 21, 2011. He played for the Blaze from 2011 to 2012.{{cite web | url=http://www.arenafan.com/players/10124/ | title=Ed Ta'amu | publisher=Arenafan.com | accessdate=June 12, 2024}}

=Los Angeles Kiss=

Ta'amu was assigned to the Los Angeles Kiss on June 5, 2015. He was placed on recallable reassignment on June 10, 2015.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=219 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=Arenafan.com | accessdate=June 12, 2024}}

=Portland Thunder=

Ta'amu was assigned to the Portland Thunder on August 12, 2015. He was placed on the suspended list on August 17, 2015.{{cite web | url=https://www.arenafan.com/teams/?page=transactions&type=old&team=220 | title=Historical Team Transactions | publisher=Arenafan.com | accessdate=June 12, 2024}}

Personal life

In 2002, Ta'amu was one of 28 Samoan players in the National Football League, the most notable being Tiaina "Junior" Seau. As of October 4, 2008, Ta'amu was one of 16 Polynesian players in the Arena Football League.

Ta’amu's son, Alofa Tunoa (Noa) is an ice hockey player who was selected third overall by the Edmonton Oil Kings in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft.{{cite web|title=Oil Kings sign 2023 U.S. Priority Draft third-overall pick Alofa Tunoa Ta'amu|url=https://whl.ca/article/oil-kings-sign-2023-u-s-priority-draft-third-overall-pick-alofa-tunoa-taamu?fbclid=IwAR3tQ4YF2Cjh0Nuu3VGS96sgScI_OzMSb7Egx3HaPkxFIfQAJwOQPxGLpzI#|access-date=May 10, 2023|publisher=Western Hockey League}}

Notes

External links

[https://archive.today/20080603004850/http://kcbrigade.com/playerbio.cfm?name=taamu Kansas City Brigade bio]
[http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taamu_ed00.html Utah Utes bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20130628235537/http://utahutes.cstv.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/taamu_ed00.html |date=June 28, 2013 }}
[https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=35553&SPID=2797&DB_OEM_ID=3500&ATCLID=1388572&Q Bio] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110929210812/https://www.nmnathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=35553&SPID=2797&DB_OEM_ID=3500&ATCLID=1388572&Q |date=September 29, 2011 }} at ArenaFootball.com

Category:1979 births

Category:Living people

Category:American sportspeople of Samoan descent

Category:American football defensive linemen

Category:American football offensive linemen

Category:Utah Utes football players

Category:Minnesota Vikings players

Category:Houston Texans players

Category:21st-century American sportsmen

Category:Kansas City Brigade players

Category:Spokane Shock players

Category:Players of American football from Honolulu