{{Short description|American football player (born 1999)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2023}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Austin Faoliu | image = Austin Faoliu Washington at Dallas DEC2021.jpg | caption = Faoliu with the Cowboys in 2021 | current_team = | number = | position = Nose tackle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1999|01|09}} | birth_place = Santa Ana, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 305 | high_school = Mater Dei {{nowrap|(Santa Ana, California)}} | college = Oregon | undraftedyear = 2021 | pastteams = * Dallas Cowboys ({{NFL Year|2021}}) * Seattle Sea Dragons ({{XFL Year|2023}}) * Seattle Seahawks ({{NFL Year|2023}}) * St. Louis Battlehawks ({{UFL Year|2024}}–{{UFL Year|2025}}) | status = Active | highlights = * All-XFL Team (2023) | statleague = | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 3 | statlabel2 = Pass deflections | statvalue2 = | statlabel3 = Interceptions | statvalue3 = | statlabel4 = Sacks | statvalue4 = | statlabel5 = Forced fumbles | statvalue5 = | statlabel6 = Fumble recoveries | statvalue6 = | pfr = FaolAu00 }} '''Austin Faoliu''' (born January 9, 1999) is an American football nose tackle. He played college football at the University of Oregon.
==Early years== Faoliu attended Junípero Serra Catholic High School.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mosqueda |first=Justis |date=May 1, 2021 |title=Austin Faoliu NFL Draft 2021: Scouting Report for Dallas Cowboys DL |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/2931795-austin-faoliu-nfl-draft-2021-scouting-report-for-dallas-cowboys-dl |access-date=April 15, 2023 |work=Bleacher Report}}</ref> As a sophomore, he had 48 carries for 351 yards and 4 touchdowns.
As a senior, he transferred to Mater Dei High School and was named a starter at nose guard.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fryer |first=Steve |date=February 1, 2017 |title=Mater Dei's Faoliu gets two last-minute offers, but stays with Oregon |url=https://www.ocvarsity.com/articles/faoliu-86440-dei-mater.html |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=Orange County Register}}</ref> He tallied 32 tackles (9 for loss), 1.5 sacks and one forced fumble, while receiving All-County honors. He contributed to a second place in the CIF Southern Section Division 1.
==College career== Faoliu accepted a football scholarship from the University of Oregon.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Albano |first=Dan |date=January 21, 2017 |title=Football recruiting: Mater Dei's Austin Faoliu commits to Oregon |url=https://www.ocregister.com/2017/01/21/football-recruiting-mater-deis-austin-faoliu-commits-to-oregon/ |access-date=October 9, 2021 |website=Orange County Register}}</ref> As a freshman, he appeared in 12 games, starting the first two contests. He posted 22 tackles (2.5 for loss) and one sack. He had 3 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble against the University of Arizona. He made 4 tackles against Boise State University.
As a sophomore, he appeared in 11 games with 6 starts. He totaled 44 tackles and 2 sacks. He had 7 tackles against Portland State University. He made 7 tackles against the University of Utah.
As a junior, he appeared in 13 games with 8 starts. He registered 39 tackles (5 for loss), 2 sacks. He had 6 tackles and 1.5 sacks against Arizona State University. He made 8 tackles (1.5 for loss) and one quarterback hurry against Oregon State University.
As a senior, the football season was reduced to 7 games due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He started in 6 contests, while collecting 21 tackles (0.5 for loss). He had five tackles against Oregon State University. He finished his college career with 43 games, 124 tackles, 10 tackles for loss, 5 sacks and 3 forced fumbles.
==Professional career== {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 3 1/8 | weight = 287 | dash = | ten split = | twenty split = | shuttle = | cone drill = | vertical = | broad ft = | broad in = | bench = | arm span = 32 3/4 | hand span = 9 3/4 | wonderlic = | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Faoliu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile |url=https://www.nfl.com/prospects/austin-faoliu/32004641-4f07-0576-4d88-4c2cace290a2 |access-date=January 8, 2022 |website=NFL.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Faoliu, Oregon, DT, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1022210&DraftYear=2021 |access-date=January 8, 2022 |website=draftscout.com}}</ref> }}
===Dallas Cowboys=== Faoliu was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Dallas Cowboys after the 2021 NFL draft on May 14.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Rob |date=May 14, 2021 |title=Cowboys Officially Sign 13 Rookie Free Agents |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-officially-sign-13-rookie-free-agents |access-date=October 9, 2021 |website=Dallas Cowboys}}</ref> On August 31, he was waived.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Phillips |first=Rob |date=August 31, 2021 |title=Cowboys Make 28 Moves; Roster Cut Down To 53 |url=https://www.dallascowboys.com/news/cowboys-make-28-moves-to-set-initial-53-man-roster |access-date=October 9, 2021 |website=Dallas Cowboys}}</ref> On September 1, he was signed to the practice squad. On September 27, he was promoted to the active roster. He appeared in one game and had 2 tackles.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Austin Faoliu 2021 Game Log |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/players/F/FaolAu00/gamelog/2021/ |access-date=2025-01-19 |website=Pro-Football-Reference.com |language=en}}</ref>
He signed a reserve/future contract with the Cowboys on January 19, 2022. He was waived on August 15, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Brock |first=Todd |date=August 15, 2022 |title=Cowboys make 5 cuts, including spring FA signing, to get down to 85 players |url=https://cowboyswire.usatoday.com/2022/08/15/cowboys-cuts-spring-udfa-85-players/ |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=USAToday.com}}</ref>
===Seattle Sea Dragons=== Faoliu was selected by the XFL Seattle Sea Dragons in the Group 3 fourth round (31st overall) of the 2023 XFL draft.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Larsen |first=James |date=January 21, 2023 |title=Breaking Down The Seattle Sea Dragons 2023 XFL Roster |url=https://xflnewsroom.com/column/breaking-down-the-seattle-sea-dragons-2023-xfl-roster/ |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=XFL Newsroom}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=November 18, 2022 |title=Rosters for all eight XFL teams: Full draft results and where Vic Beasley, Martavis Bryant landed |url=https://www.espn.com/xfl/story/_/id/35053464/xfl-draft-results-2023-full-rosters-eight-teams-vic-beasley-martavis-bryant-picks |access-date=April 15, 2023 |website=ESPN.com}}</ref> He appeared in 10 games with 10 starts, making 24 tackles and one sack. He was released from his contract on May 15, 2023.<ref>{{cite web |title=XFL Transactions |url=https://www.xfl.com/xfl-transactions |access-date=May 18, 2023}}</ref>
=== Seattle Seahawks === On May 16, 2023, Faoliu signed with the Seattle Seahawks.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=May 16, 2023 |title=Seahawks Sign NT Austin Faoliu |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-sign-nt-austin-faoliu |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Seahawks.com}}</ref> He was placed on the reserve/PUP list on August 29, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Boyle |first=John |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Seahawks Make Roster Moves, Establish Initial 2023 53-Man Roster |url=https://www.seahawks.com/news/seahawks-establish-initial-2023-53-man-roster |access-date=2025-01-01 |website=Seahawks.com}}</ref> He was activated on November 6, then waived the following day and re-signed to the practice squad. He was not signed to a reserve/future contract after the season and thus became a free agent upon the expiration of his practice squad contract.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Smith |first=Corbin K. |date=January 8, 2024 |title=Seahawks Sign Seven Practice Squad Players to Future Contracts |url=https://www.si.com/nfl/seahawks/news/seattle-seahawks-easop-winston-levi-bell-signed-future-contracts |magazine=Sports Illustrated}}</ref>
=== St. Louis Battlehawks === On February 19, 2024, Faoliu signed with the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL),<ref>{{cite news |title=UFL Player Transactions, Monday February 19, 2024 |url=https://uflboard.com/news/ufl-player-transactions-monday-february-19-2024/ |website=UFLBoard.com |date=February 19, 2024 |access-date=February 20, 2024}}</ref> and signed a new contract with them on February 27.<ref>{{cite news |title=UFL Player Transactions, Tuesday February 27, 2024 |url=https://uflboard.com/news/ufl-player-transactions-tuesday-february-27-2024/ |website=UFLBoard.com |date=February 27, 2024 |access-date=February 28, 2024}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==External links== * [https://goducks.com/sports/football/roster/austin-faoliu/10047 Oregon Ducks bio]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faoliu, Austin}} Category:Living people Category:1999 births Category:Players of American football from Santa Ana, California Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Mater Dei High School (Santa Ana, California) alumni Category:Oregon Ducks football players Category:Dallas Cowboys players Category:Seattle Sea Dragons players Category:Seattle Seahawks players Category:St. Louis Battlehawks players