Justus Tavai

{{Short description|American football player (born 1998)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2024}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Justus Tavai | image = | image_size = | alt = | caption = | number = | current_team = | position = Defensive tackle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1998|6|26}} | birth_place = Inglewood, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 3 | weight_lb = 295 | high_school = Mira Costa <br> (Manhattan Beach, California) | college = El Camino (2017) <br> Hawaii (2018–2021) <br> San Diego State (2022) | undraftedyear = 2023 | pastteams = * New England Patriots ({{NFL Year|2023}})* | status = | highlights = | statseason = | statweek = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = | statlabel2 = Sacks | statvalue2 = | statlabel3 = Interceptions | statvalue3 = | pfr = TavaJu01 }}

'''Justus Tavai''' (born June 26, 1998) is an American football defensive tackle. He was signed by the Patriots as an undrafted free agent after the 2023 NFL draft.<ref name=draft>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/patriots/nfl-rumors-patriots-signing-undrafted-dt-justus-tavai|title=Report: Patriots signing UDFA Justus Tavai to 90-man roster|website=RSN|first=Justin|last=Leger|date=May 18, 2023}}</ref> He played college football at El Camino, Hawaii and San Diego State.

==Personal life== He is the younger brother of current Patriots linebacker Jahlani Tavai and defensive end J. R. Tavai.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://atozsports.com/new-england/patriots-sign-familiar-name-to-fill-90-man-roster/|title=Patriots sign familiar name to fill out 90-man roster|first=Doug|last=Kyed|date=May 18, 2023|website=A to Z Sports}}</ref>

== Professional career == Justus Tavai plays tighthead prop for RFC LA in Major League Rugby. <ref> https://all.rugby/player/justus-tavai</ref> {{NFL predraft | height ft = 6 | height in = 1 | weight = 285 | dash = 5.14 | ten split = 1.77 | twenty split = 2.95 | shuttle = 4.77 | cone drill = 7.74 | vertical = 28 | broad ft = 8 | broad in = 6 | bench = 25 | arm span = 32 1/2 | hand span = 9 1/2 | wonderlic = | note = All values from Pro Day<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://draftscout.com/dsprofile.php?PlayerId=1025377&DraftYear=2023 |title=2023 NFL Draft Scout Justus Tavai College Football Profile |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=DraftScout.com}}</ref> }} After going undrafted in the 2023 NFL draft, Tavai signed with the New England Patriots of the National Football League (NFL) on June 5, 2023.<ref name=draft /> He was waived on August 27, 2023.<ref>{{cite web|title=Patriots Release 11 Players|url=https://www.patriots.com/news/patriots-release-11-players|website=Patriots.com|date=August 27, 2023}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * [https://hawaiiathletics.com/sports/football/roster/justus-tavai/19404 Hawaii Rainbow Warriors bio] * [https://goaztecs.com/sports/football/roster/justus-tavai/7714 San Diego State Aztecs bio]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tavai, Justus}} Category:1998 births Category:Living people Category:Players of American football from Inglewood, California Category:American football defensive tackles Category:Mira Costa High School alumni Category:Hawaii Rainbow Warriors football players Category:New England Patriots players Category:San Diego State Aztecs football players Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople from Manhattan Beach, California Category:21st-century American sportsmen Category:American rugby union players Category:Rugby union props Category:Sportspeople from Inglewood, California Category:American Raptors players Category:Rugby Football Club Los Angeles players Category:California Legion players