Kana'i Mauga

Mauga was born on January 8, 2000, in Waianae, Hawaii.{{Cite web|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/M/MaugKa00.htm|website=Pro-Football-Reference.com|title=Kana'i Mauga Stats}} He attended Waianae High School and after being named third-team all-state as a junior he was the Hawaii Defensive Player of the Year in 2017 while totaling 52.5 tackles and three defensive touchdowns.{{Cite web|url=https://usctrojans.com/sports/football/roster/kana-i-mauga/12115|publisher=USC Trojans|title=Kana'i Mauga}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-mauga/132708762/|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=December 17, 2017|page=C1|title=Best In Show|author=Hooda, Paul}} {{Open access}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-mauga/132708705/|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|author=Hooda, Paul|date=November 7, 2017|page=C5|title=Ain't No Mountain High Enough}} {{Open access}} Ranked a four-star prospect and the best outside linebacker in the state, Mauga committed to play college football for the USC Trojans.{{Cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2717738-4-star-lb-prospect-kanai-mauga-commits-to-usc-trojans|website=Bleacher Report|title=4-Star LB Prospect Kana'i Mauga Commits to USC Trojans|date=June 24, 2017|author=Chiari, Mike}}

As a true freshman at USC in 2018, Mauga appeared in all 12 games and posted 14 tackles with two pass breakups.{{Cite web|url=https://www.profootballnetwork.com/kanai-mauga-usc-lb-nfl-draft-scouting-report-2022/|publisher=Pro Football Network|title=Kana'i Mauga, USC LB {{!}} NFL Draft Scouting Report|date=August 1, 2021|author=Cummings, Ian}} He saw his first time as a starter in 2019, posting in his first start 13 tackles, a sack, an interception and a forced fumble.{{Cite news|url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/honolulu-star-advertiser-mauga/132708883/|newspaper=Honolulu Star-Advertiser|via=Newspapers.com|date=October 23, 2019|page=C5|title=Mauga Starts Something Special|author=Hull, Billy}} {{Open access}} He finished the year with eight starts and compiled 59 tackles, seven {{abbr|TFLs|tackles-for-loss}}, three sacks and two pass breakups. He tallied 41 tackles, three TFLs, a sack and an interception in the COVID-19-impacted 2020 season. In his final year, Mauga played 12 games and finished with 91 tackles, 5.5 TFLs, a sack and an interception.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/kanai-mauga-1.html|website=Sports Reference|title=Kana'i Mauga College Stats}} He declared for the National Football League Draft after the 2021 season, ending his stint at USC with 206 tackles, six pass breakups, five sacks and three interceptions.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/college/usc/football/kanai-mauga-declares-for-nfl-draft|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=USC Linebacker Kana'i Mauga Declares For 2022 NFL Draft|date=December 22, 2021|author=Pattison, Claudette Montana}}

{{NFL predraft

| height ft = 6

| height in = 0 3/4

| weight = 245

| dash = 4.67

| ten split = 1.67

| twenty split = 2.67

| shuttle = 4.40

| cone drill = 7.27

| vertical = 32.0

| broad ft = 9

| broad in = 7

| bench = 21

| arm span = 33 1/4

| hand span = 9 3/4

| note = All values from Pro Day{{Cite web |title=2022 NFL Draft Scout Kana'i Mauga College Football Profile |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022206&DraftYear=2022 |access-date=December 14, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}

}}

After going unselected in the 2022 NFL draft, Mauga was signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent.{{Cite news|url=https://trojanswire.usatoday.com/2022/05/02/kanai-mauga-joins-the-broncos-gets-a-chance-to-prove-himself-in-the-pros/|newspaper=USA Today|title=Kana'i Mauga joins the Broncos, gets a chance to prove himself in the pros|date=May 2, 2022|author=Wadleigh, Matt}} He was waived on August 30 and subsequently re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-make-series-of-roster-moves-to-reach-53-player-limit|publisher=Denver Broncos|title=Broncos make series of roster moves to reach 53-player limit |date=August 30, 2022|author=DiLalla, Aric}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.denverpost.com/2022/08/31/broncos-receiver-tyrie-cleveland-returns-returns/|newspaper=The Denver Post|title=Broncos receiver Tyrie Cleveland returns to practice after "freak hit" to throat |date=August 31, 2022|author=Newman, Kyle}} He was released from the practice squad on November 1.{{Cite web|url=https://www.denverbroncos.com/news/broncos-waive-rb-devine-ozigbo-sign-lb-zach-mccloud-to-practice-squad|publisher=Denver Broncos|title=Broncos waive RB Devine Ozigbo, sign LB Zach McCloud to practice squad |date=November 1, 2022|author=DiLalla, Aric}}

On December 13, 2022, Mauga was signed to the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/the-black-hole-plus/darren-waller-hunter-renfrow-las-vegas-raiders-netane-muti-jayon-brown-kanai-mauga|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Good News From Raiders Practice, Roster Additions|date=December 14, 2022|author=Carpenter, Hondo S., Sr.}} He was signed to a reserve/future contract on January 9, 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-sign-13-players-to-reserve-future-contracts-nfl-transactions-2023|publisher=Las Vegas Raiders|title=Raiders sign 13 players to Reserve/Future contracts |date=January 9, 2023}} He was released on August 1, but later re-signed on August 12.{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/news/las-vegas-raiders-chase-garbers-darius-harris-o-j-howard-justin-murray-kanai-mauga|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Raiders Waive TE O.J. Howard as Part of Five Roster Moves|date=August 1, 2023|author=Champion, Aidan}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/gm-report/las-vegas-raiders-kanai-mauga-darwin-thompson-darius-harris-dj-turner|magazine=Sports Illustrated|author=Carpenter, Hondo S., Sr.|title=Raiders Ziegler Roster Moves: Signs Two, Cuts Two|date=August 12, 2023}} He was released at the final roster cuts in 2023 and subsequently re-signed to the practice squad.{{Cite news|url=https://www.fresnobee.com/sports/article278730434.html|newspaper=The Fresno Bee|title=Who did the Raiders cut to get to the initial 53-man roster? There was a surprise|date=August 30, 2023|author=Galaviz, Anthony}}{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.si.com/nfl/raiders/news/las-vegas-raiders-practice-squad-53-man-roster-undrafted-free-agent|magazine=Sports Illustrated|title=Raiders Sign 14 Players to their Practice Squad|date=August 30, 2023|author=Champion, Aidan}} He was signed to the active roster on September 30 and later made his NFL debut in the team's Week 4 game against the Los Angeles Chargers, becoming the third alumni of his high school to ever make it to the NFL.{{Cite web|url=https://www.khon2.com/sports/waianaes-kanai-mauga-added-to-raiders-active-roster/|publisher=KHON-TV|title=Waianae's Kana'i Mauga added to Raiders active roster |author=Shimabuku, Christian|date=September 30, 2023}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.khon2.com/sports/nfl-hawaii-tracker-week-4-waianaes-kanai-mauga-makes-nfl-regular-season-debut/|publisher=KHON-TV|title=NFL Hawaii Tracker Week 4: Waianae's Kana'i Mauga makes NFL regular season debut |date=October 1, 2023|author=Shimbabuku, Christian}} He was placed on injured reserve on October 30, and activated on December 9, but placed back on IR three days later with a knee injury.{{cite web|title=Raiders activate LB Curtis Bolton, place LB Kana'i Mauga on injured reserve|url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-activate-lb-curtis-bolton-place-lb-kana-i-mauga-on-injured-reserve|website=Raiders.com|date=October 30, 2023}} Mauga finished the 2023 season with five games played and three tackles.

On April 25, 2025, Mauga was waived by the Raiders.{{cite web |title=Raiders waive 6 players |url=https://www.raiders.com/news/raiders-waive-six-players-mj-devonshire-ramel-keyton-nfl-2025-transactions |website=raiders.com |access-date=26 April 2025}}

{{Reflist}}

• [https://usctrojans.com/sports/football/roster/kana-i-mauga/12115 USC Trojans bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mauga, Kana'i}}

Category:2000 births

Category:Living people

Category:American football linebackers

Category:Players of American football from Hawaii

Category:USC Trojans football players

Category:Denver Broncos players

Category:Las Vegas Raiders players

Category:Pacific Islander American players of American football