{{Short description|American football player (born 1987)}} {{Use American English|date=February 2024}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2019}} {{Infobox NFL biography | name = Martin Tevaseu | image = | image_size = | caption = | current_team = | number = 95, 68 | position = Nose tackle | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1987|10|7|mf=y}} | birth_place = Oakland, California, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | height_ft = 6 | height_in = 1 | weight_lbs = 310 | high_school = Anderson Valley {{nowrap|(Boonville, California)}} | college = UNLV | undraftedyear = 2010 | pastteams = * Cleveland Browns ({{NFL Year|2010}})* * New York Jets ({{NFL Year|2010}}–{{NFL Year|2011}}) * Indianapolis Colts ({{NFL Year|2012}}) | status = | highlights = | statweek = | statseason = | statlabel1 = Total tackles | statvalue1 = 13 | pfr = TevaMa00 }}
'''Martin Tauamanu Tevaseu''' ({{IPAc-en|ˌ|t|eɪ|v|ə|ˈ|s|eɪ|j|uː}} {{respell|TAY|və|SAY|yoo}}; born October 7, 1987) is an American former professional football player who was a nose tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UNLV Rebels. He signed with the Cleveland Browns in 2010 as an undrafted free agent.
==Early life== Born in Oakland, Tevaseu was raised in Boonville, California, where he attended Anderson Valley High School. His parents are of Samoan descent. He signed a letter of intent to play college football for the Arizona State Sun Devils, but suffered a severe knee injury during practice. He played at Santa Rosa Junior College before transferring to University of Nevada, Las Vegas.<ref name=ava>{{cite news|title=NFL's Browns sign former Bear Cub Tevaseu|series=Valley People|work=The Anderson Valley Advertiser Online|date=January 27, 2011|url=https://theava.com/archives/9711|access-date=January 14, 2013}}</ref><ref name=bleachrreport>{{cite news|title=Polamalu paving the way for Samoans, new lineman signs to Cleveland Browns |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/392169-polamalu-raising-samoan-awareness-in-the-nfl-newest-signing-to-browns|author=Ingro, Samuel|date=May 14, 2010|access-date=January 14, 2013}}</ref>
==Professional career== ===Cleveland Browns=== Tevaseu was not selected in the 2010 NFL draft. Even after running a 4.96 40 at his pro day. After attending a three-day tryout with the Cleveland Browns in early May, the team signed Tevaseu to a contract.<ref>{{cite news|title=NFL's Browns sign former Bear Cub Tevaseu |url=http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100513/SPORTS/100519711/1010/SPORTS?Title=NFL-s-Browns-sign-former-Bear-Cub-Tevaseu |work=The Press Democrat |author=Branch, Eric |date=May 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120307175705/http://www.pressdemocrat.com/article/20100513/SPORTS/100519711/1010/SPORTS?Title=NFL-s-Browns-sign-former-Bear-Cub-Tevaseu |archive-date=March 7, 2012 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Browns waived Tevaseu a month later.<ref name="Tevaseu, Jets">{{cite web|title=Jets sign Martin Tevaseu |url=http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jets-sign-Martin-Tevaseu.html |publisher=National Football Post |author=Wilson, Aaron |date=July 20, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100723101829/http://www.nationalfootballpost.com/Jets-sign-Martin-Tevaseu.html |archive-date=July 23, 2010 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===New York Jets=== Tevaseu signed with the New York Jets on July 20, 2010.<ref name="Tevaseu, Jets"/> Tevaseu broke his hand early in training camp.<ref name="Tevaseu, TJB">{{cite web|title=Revis Out, Pace Maybe and A Little Something About Martin Tevaseu |url=http://www.thejetsblog.com/2010/10/01/revis-out-pace-maybe-and-a-little-something-about-martin-tevaseu/ |publisher=TheJetsBlog |author=Zimmerman, Lisa |date=October 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717010158/http://www.thejetsblog.com/2010/10/01/revis-out-pace-maybe-and-a-little-something-about-martin-tevaseu/ |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In spite of this, Tevaseu practiced every day with a club on the broken hand. Head coach Rex Ryan praised his tenacity.<ref name="Tevaseu, TJB"/>
Tevaseu was released from the active roster during the Jets' final round of cuts prior to the start of the season.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets 53-man roster taking shape|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2010/09/jets-53-man-roster-taking-shap.html|work=New York Daily News|publisher=Mortimer Zuckerman|author=Mehta, Manish|date=September 4, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906024904/http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/jets/2010/09/jets-53-man-roster-taking-shap.html|archive-date=September 6, 2010|url-status=dead|access-date=October 10, 2010}}</ref> He was promptly re-signed to the team's practice squad.<ref>{{cite web|title=New York Jets Transactions |url=http://www.nfl.com/teams/newyorkjets/transactions?team=NYJ |publisher=National Football League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101017155021/http://www.nfl.com/teams/newyorkjets/transactions?team=NYJ |archive-date=October 17, 2010 |access-date=October 10, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Tevaseu was promoted to the active roster on January 22, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets elevate DT Martin Tevaseu, waive DB Isaiah Trufant |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/01/jets_elevate_dt_martin_tevaseu.html |work=The Star-Ledger |publisher=Advance Publications |author=Vrentas, Jenny |date=January 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110129035425/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/01/jets_elevate_dt_martin_tevaseu.html |archive-date=January 29, 2011 |access-date=January 25, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was waived on September 4, 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets awarded four players off waivers, including QB Kevin O'Connell; cut Aaron Maybin|url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/09/jets_claim_center_colin_baxter.html|work=The Star-Ledger|publisher=Advance Publications|author=Vrentas, Jenny|date=September 4, 2011|access-date=September 4, 2011}}</ref> He was signed to the practice squad on September 5. He was promoted to the active roster on October 12. He was waived on October 18.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets waive Martin Tevaseu and release Dennis Landolt from practice squad |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/10/jets_waive_martin_tevaseu_and.html |work=The Star-Ledger |author=Star-Ledger Staff |date=October 18, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111020135348/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/10/jets_waive_martin_tevaseu_and.html |archive-date=October 20, 2011 |access-date=October 18, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was re-signed to the team's practice squad two days later.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tevaseu Re-Signed to Practice Squad |url=http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Tevaseu-Re-Signed-to-Practice-Squad/a5facbf5-723d-4d2a-a9b9-8404ed0b8171 |publisher=New York Jets |author=Jets Media Relations Department |date=October 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303221628/http://www.newyorkjets.com/news/article-1/Tevaseu-Re-Signed-to-Practice-Squad/a5facbf5-723d-4d2a-a9b9-8404ed0b8171 |archive-date=March 3, 2016 |access-date=October 20, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was promoted back to the active roster on October 22.<ref>{{cite news|title=Jets place WR Logan Payne on injured reserve, call up DT Martin Tevaseu |url=http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/10/jets_will_place_wr_logan_payne.html |work=The Star-Ledger |author=Vrentas, Jenny |date=October 22, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023221546/http://www.nj.com/jets/index.ssf/2011/10/jets_will_place_wr_logan_payne.html |archive-date=October 23, 2011 |access-date=October 22, 2011 |url-status=dead }}</ref> On August 31, 2012, he was waived.<ref>{{cite web|title=Final 7 Cuts Announced, Roster's Now at 53 |url=http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2012/08/31/fifteen-cuts-announced-7-more-moves-to-go/ |publisher=New York Jets |author=Lange, Randy |date=August 31, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120902212330/http://blog.newyorkjets.com/2012/08/31/fifteen-cuts-announced-7-more-moves-to-go/ |archive-date=September 2, 2012 |access-date=August 31, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
===Indianapolis Colts=== Tevaseu was claimed off waivers by the Indianapolis Colts on September 1, 2012.<ref>{{cite web|title=Colts Remain Active on Roster Front |url=http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/COLTS-REMAIN-ACTIVE-ON-ROSTER-FRONT/5278db3b-4b0b-4bdc-a793-3b1ebd6fb716 |publisher=Indianapolis Colts |author=Colts.com |date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903224327/http://www.colts.com/news/article-1/COLTS-REMAIN-ACTIVE-ON-ROSTER-FRONT/5278db3b-4b0b-4bdc-a793-3b1ebd6fb716 |archive-date=September 3, 2012 |access-date=September 4, 2012 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was [https://web.archive.org/web/20150526010634/http://news.hotboxsports.com/NFL/player/1359 released] on August 31, 2013 as the Indianapolis Colts got down to the league-mandated 53-player roster to start the season.
==Coaching career== Martin now works as a [http://www.srjcathletics.com/sports/fball/coaches/Assistant_Coach_Tevaseu defensive line coach]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.srjcathletics.com/sports/fball/coaches/Assistant_Coach_Tevaseu|title=Santa Rosa Junior College|website=www.srjcathletics.com|language=en|access-date=November 8, 2017}}</ref> for Santa Rosa Junior College.
==Personal life== Tevaseu was born to Debby Fanene. Tevaseu has several other siblings, two brothers and five sisters. Tevaseu is the cousin of former UNLV Rebel and fullback Frank Summers.
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20170505232602/http://www.unlvrebels.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/tevaseu_martin00.html UNLV biography]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tevaseu, Martin}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:People from Boonville, California Category:Players of American football from Mendocino County, California Category:American people of Samoan descent Category:Sportspeople of Samoan descent Category:American football defensive tackles Category:UNLV Rebels football players Category:Players of American football from Oakland, California Category:Cleveland Browns players Category:New York Jets players Category:Indianapolis Colts players Category:Santa Rosa Bear Cubs football coaches Category:Coaches of American football from California