Jonah Savaiinaea
{{Short description|American football player (born 2004)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox NFL biography
| name = Jonah Savaiinaea
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| current_team = Miami Dolphins
| number = 72
| position = Offensive guard
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|2004|1|13|mf=y}}
| birth_place = Tafuna, American Samoa
| death_date =
| death_place =
| height_ft = 6
| height_in = 4
| weight_lb = 324
| high_school = Saint Louis (Honolulu, Hawaii)
| college = Arizona (2022–2024)
| draftyear = 2025
| draftround = 2
| draftpick = 37
| pastteams =
- Miami Dolphins ({{NFL Year|2025}}–present)
| status = Unsigned draft pick
| highlights =
| statseason = 2025
| statweek =
| statlabel1 = Rushing yards
| statvalue1 =
| statlabel2 = Rushing average
| statvalue2 =
| statlabel3 = Rushing touchdowns
| statvalue3 =
| statlabel4 = Receptions
| statvalue4 =
| statlabel5 = Receiving yards
| statvalue5 =
| statlabel6 = Receiving touchdowns
| statvalue6 =
| pfr = SavaJo00
}}
Jonah M. Savaiinaea ({{respell|Savuh|ee|NYE|uh}}; born January 13, 2004) is an American professional football guard for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Arizona Wildcats and was selected by the Dolphins in the second round of the 2025 NFL draft.
Early life
Savaiinaea was born in Tafuna, American Samoa, and attended the Saint Louis School in Honolulu, Hawaii. He was rated as a three-star recruit and committed to play college football for the Arizona Wildcats while also having offers from schools such as Arizona State, UCF, Hawaii, Syracuse, San Diego State, and UNLV.{{cite web |last1=Moreno |first1=Matt |title=2022 commitment: Big OL prospect Jonah Savaiinaea picks Arizona after visit |url=https://arizona.rivals.com/news/2022-commitment-big-ol-prospect-jonah-savaiinaea-picks-arizona-after-visit |website=Rivals.com |date=22 June 2021 |access-date=19 May 2024}}
College career
As a freshman in 2022, Savaiinaea started all 12 games at right guard for the Wildcats.{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Justin |title='That's an NFL player': Jonah Savaiinaea set to start at right tackle for Arizona football |url=https://tucson.com/sports/college/football/wildcats/jonah-savaiinaea-set-to-take-over-starting-right-tackle/article_bf3afbc0-28d6-11ee-8c79-2fb530216af9.html |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=22 July 2023 |access-date=19 May 2024}} For his performance on the season, he was named to the FWAA freshman all-American team and was an honorable mention all-Pac-12 Conference selection.{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Justin |title=Arizona offensive lineman Jonah Savaiinaea named to FWAA Freshman All-American Team |url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/arizona-offensive-lineman-jonah-savaiinaea-named-to-fwaa-freshman-all-american-team/article_e80de952-92b5-11ed-8fdd-1f9d27e447b6.html |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=12 January 2023 |access-date=19 May 2024}} Heading into the 2023 season, Savaiinaea was converted from right guard to right tackle.{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Justin |title=Right tackle 'a total different world' for Jonah Savaiinaea, Arizona's 'gifted offensive lineman' |url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/right-tackle-a-total-different-world-for-jonah-savaiinaea-arizonas-gifted-offensive-lineman/article_aa1ff0de-d3cb-11ed-8962-8776b6f58acf.html |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=5 April 2023 |access-date=19 May 2024}} During the season though, he played both right guard and tackle.{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Justin |title=Pass-blocking expert, 'leader' Jonah Savaiinaea helps Arizona football's right guard crisis |url=https://tucson.com/sports/arizonawildcats/football/jonah-savaiinaea-arizona-football-pass-blocking-expert/article_dbfd4842-67a8-11ee-aa36-77045af058fe.html |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=10 October 2023 |access-date=19 May 2024}} Savaiinaea started all 13 games for Arizona in 2023,{{cite web |last1=Spears |first1=Justin |title=Arizona Wildcats have 'viable options' to replace tackle Jordan Morgan |url=https://tucson.com/sports/college/football/wildcats/arizona-wildcats-have-viable-options-to-replace-tackle-jordan-morgan/article_23046d12-ef83-11ee-a38b-37cdcd2d6963.html |work=Arizona Daily Star |date=31 March 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024}} once again receiving all-Pac-12 honorable mention all-Pac-12.{{cite web |last1=Goldkamp |first1=Thomas |title=Offensive linemen Jonah Savaiinaea and Wendell Moe announce return to Arizona |url=https://www.on3.com/college/arizona-wildcats/news/offensive-linemen-jonah-savaiinaea-and-wendell-moe-announce-return-to-arizona/ |website=On3.com |date=22 January 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024}}
Professional career
{{NFL predraft
| height ft = 6
| height in = 4 1/8
| weight = 324
| dash = 4.95
| ten split = 1.72
| twenty split = 2.87
| shuttle = 4.66
| vertical = 29.0
| broad ft = 8
| broad in = 10
| bench = 26
| arm span = 33 7/8
| hand span = 10 1/4
| note = All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day{{Cite web |last=Reuter |first=Chad |last2=Zierlein |first2=Lance |title=Jonah Savaiinaea Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/jonah-savaiinaea/32005341-5629-2109-a411-9050c58f1ecf |access-date=11 March 2025 |website=NFL.com}}{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1057482&DraftYear=2025 |title=Jonah Savaiinaea College Football Profile |website=DraftScout.com |access-date=11 March 2025}}
}}
Savaiinaea was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the second round with the 37th overall pick in the 2025 NFL draft.{{cite web | last=Kelly | first=Omar | title=Kelly: Dolphins pay steep price to land one of draft's elite guards | website=Miami Herald | date=2025-04-25 | url=https://www.miamiherald.com/sports/spt-columns-blogs/omar-kelly/article304958886.html | access-date=2025-05-19}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.miamidolphins.com/team/players-roster/jonah-savaiinaea/ Miami Dolphins bio]
- [https://arizonawildcats.com/sports/football/roster/jonah-savaiinaea/16647 Arizona Wildcats bio]
{{Miami Dolphins 2025 NFL draft picks}}
{{Miami Dolphins roster navbox}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Savaiinea, Jonah}}
Category:American sportspeople of Samoan descent
Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football
Category:Players of American football from American Samoa
Category:Players of American football from Hawaii
Category:American football offensive tackles
Category:Saint Louis School alumni