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Pita Taumoepenu

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Pita Taumoepenu
No. 7 – St. Louis Battlehawks
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (1994-03-09) March 9, 1994 (age 30)
Euless, Texas, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:250 lb (113 kg)
Career information
High school:Timpview (Provo, Utah)
College:Utah
NFL draft:2017 / round: 6 / pick: 202
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
  • XFL Defensive Player of the Year (2023)
  • All-XFL Team (2023)
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:5
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Pita Taumoepenu (born March 9, 1994) is an American professional football linebacker for the St. Louis Battlehawks of the United Football League (UFL). He played college football at Utah. He was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the sixth round of the 2017 NFL draft.

Professional career

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Pre-draft

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Coming out of Utah, Taumoepenu was ranked as the 28th best outside linebacker prospect by CBS Sports.[1] On October 4, 2016, it was announced Taumoepenu had received an invitation to play in the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl.[2] On January 21, 2017, Taumoepenu attended the NFLPA Collegiate Bowl and recorded four solo tackles and one sack as a part of Jim Zorn's American team who lost 27–7 to Mike Martz's National.[3] He was one of eight Utah players invited to the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis, Indiana.[4] He completed the majority of combine drills and finished second amongst all the defensive lineman in the 40-yard dash and the three-cone drill, only behind Kansas State's Jordan Willis, and finished sixth in the short shuttle.[5] On March 23, 2017, Taumoepenu attended Utah's pro day and performed the majority of combine drills. He attended a private meeting with Pittsburgh Steelers.[6] At the conclusion of the pre-draft process, Taumoepenu was projected to be a seventh round pick or priority undrafted free agent. He was ranked the 29th best outside linebacker prospect by NFLDraftScout.com.[7]

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+1⁄4 in
(1.86 m) 		243 lb
(110 kg) 		32+3⁄8 in
(0.82 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 4.67 s 1.65 s 2.73 s 4.33 s 6.91 s 29.5 in
(0.75 m)		 9 ft 4 in
(2.84 m)		 24 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[8][9][10]

San Francisco 49ers

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The San Francisco 49ers selected Taumoepenu in the sixth round (202nd overall) of the 2017 NFL draft.[11][12] The 49ers previously acquired the pick used to select Taumoepenu in a trade with the Denver Broncos in a trade that sent Vernon Davis to the Broncos. On May 4, 2017, the 49ers signed him to a four-year, $2.54 million contract that included a signing bonus of $145,444.[13]

Throughout training camp, he competed for a roster spot against Brock Coyle, Eli Harold, Ray-Ray Armstrong, Dekoda Watson, and Jimmie Gilbert. Head coach Kyle Shanahan named him the third strongside linebacker to begin the season, behind Harold and Watson.[14] On September 1, 2018, Taumoepenu was waived by the 49ers and was signed to the practice squad the next day.[15][16] On December 5, 2018, Taumoepenu was promoted to the active roster.[17] On May 28, 2019, Taumoepenu was waived by the 49ers.[18]

Arizona Cardinals

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On May 29, 2019, Taumoepenu was claimed off waivers by the Arizona Cardinals.[19] He was waived/injured during final roster cuts on August 31, 2019,[20] and reverted to the team's injured reserve list the next day. He was waived from injured reserve with an injury settlement on September 10, 2019.

Seattle Seahawks

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On November 20, 2019, Taumoepenu was signed to the Seattle Seahawks practice squad.[21] He signed a reserve/future contract with the Seahawks on January 14, 2020.[22] He was waived on May 4, 2020, but rejoined the team on August 30, 2020.[23][24] He was waived again four days later.[25]

Atlanta Falcons

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On October 20, 2020, Taumoepenu was signed to the Atlanta Falcons practice squad.[26] He was elevated to the active roster on November 7 for the team's week 9 game against the Broncos, and reverted to the practice squad after the game.[27] His practice squad contract with the team expired after the season on January 11, 2021.[28]

Denver Broncos

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On May 17, 2021, Taumoepenu signed with the Broncos.[29] He was released on August 23, 2021.[30] He re-signed with their practice squad on September 22, 2021.[31] He was released on January 5, 2022.

Vegas Vipers

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Taumoepenu was drafted by the Vegas Vipers of the XFL in the 2023 XFL Draft.[32] On May 4, 2023, Taumoepenu was named the inaugural XFL Defensive Player of the Year.[33] He was released from his contract on August 7, 2023.[34]

New York Jets

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On August 8, 2023, Taumoepenu signed with the New York Jets.[35] He was released on August 28, 2023.[36]

St. Louis Battlehawks

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The St. Louis Battlehawks of the XFL signed Taumoepenu on December 23, 2023.[37] He re-signed with the team on October 18, 2024.[38]

NFL statistics

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Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Comb Solo Ast Sck PD Int Yds Avg Lng TDs FF FR
2017 SF 2 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2018 SF 4 0 3 3 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2019 ARI 0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 ATL 1 0 2 2 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 7 0 5 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Source: [1]

References

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  1. ^ Brandon Judd (January 19, 2017). "12 players with Utah ties set to make impressions in college football all-star games". desertnews.com. Archived from the original on December 24, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  2. ^ "35 Collegiate Bowl Players Invited to 2017 NFL Combine". Collegiate.NFLPA.com. October 4, 2016. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  3. ^ "2017 Collegiate Bowl Box Score". collegiate.NFLPA.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  4. ^ "Eight Utes Invited to 2017 NFL Scouting Combine". utahutes.com. February 26, 2017. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  5. ^ Alex Kirshner (March 6, 2017). "NFL Combine results 2017: Full defensive linemen numbers". SBNation.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  6. ^ Jeff Hartman (April 19, 2017). "Trio of defenders visit Steelers in latest round of pre-draft visits". behindthesteelcurtain.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  7. ^ "Pita Taumoepenu, DS #29 OLB, Utah". NFLDraftScout.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  8. ^ "Pita Taumoepenu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  9. ^ "2017 NFL Draft Scout Pita Taumoepenu College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  10. ^ "Watsonville Youth Football Announces 49ers Selection of Pita Taumoepenu". YouTube.com. Retrieved May 23, 2024.
  11. ^ Fann, Joe (April 29, 2017). "San Francisco 49ers Draft Utah DL Pita Taumoepenu". 49ers.com. Archived from the original on December 28, 2017. Retrieved May 13, 2017.
  12. ^ Maiocco, Matt (April 29, 2017). "49ers select DE Pita Taumoepenu in sixth round of the 2017 NFL Draft". NBC Sports Bay Area & California. Retrieved November 5, 2024.
  13. ^ "Spotrac.com: Pita Taumoepenu contract". Spotrac.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  14. ^ "Ourlads.com: San Francisco 49ers depth chart: 10/01/2017". Ourlads.com. Retrieved December 23, 2017.
  15. ^ "49ers Cut 21 Players, Get Roster Down to 53". 49ers.com. September 1, 2018.
  16. ^ "49ers Sign 9 Players to the Practice Squad". 49ers.com. September 2, 2018.
  17. ^ "49ers Announce Several Roster Moves". 49ers.com. December 5, 2018.
  18. ^ "49ers Sign CB Dontae Johnson, Waive LB Pita Taumoepenu and Release OL Anthony Davis". 49ers.com. May 28, 2019.
  19. ^ Odegard, Kyle (May 29, 2019). "Cardinals Claim Pita Taumoepenu Off Waivers". AZCardinals.com.
  20. ^ Odegard, Kyle (August 31, 2019). "After Cuts, Cardinals Arrive At Initial Roster". AZCardinals.com.
  21. ^ Boyle, John (November 20, 2019). "Seahawks Activate TE Ed Dickson, Waive CB Jamar Taylor". Seahawks.com.
  22. ^ Boyle, John (January 14, 2020). "Seahawks Sign Six Players To Reserve/Future Contracts". Seahawks.com.
  23. ^ Boyle, John (May 4, 2020). "Seahawks Sign 12 Undrafted Rookie Free Agents; Waive Four Players". Seahawks.com.
  24. ^ Corp, Alistai (August 30, 2020). "Branden Jackson placed on injured reserve". Field Gulls. Retrieved August 30, 2020.
  25. ^ Boyle, John (September 3, 2020). "Seahawks Sign WR Josh Gordon and DE Damontre Moore". Seahawks.com. Retrieved September 4, 2020.
  26. ^ "Falcons sign LB Pita Taumoepenu and DB Shyheim Carter to practice squad". The Falcoholic. SB Nation. October 20, 2020.
  27. ^ McFadden, Will (November 7, 2020). "Falcons activate Darqueze Dennard off IR". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved December 9, 2020.
  28. ^ "Atlanta allows five to become free agents". FantasyGuru.com. January 11, 2021. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  29. ^ DiLalla, Aric (May 17, 2021). "Broncos sign three tryout players; Calvin Anderson signs exclusive rights tender". DenverBroncos.com. Archived from the original on May 17, 2021. Retrieved May 19, 2021.
  30. ^ DiLalla, Aric (August 23, 2021). "Broncos sign RB Stevie Scott III, make series of roster moves". DenverBroncos.com.
  31. ^ DiLalla, Aric (September 22, 2021). "Broncos sign LB Micah Kiser off Rams' practice squad, promote RB Damarea Crockett to active roster". DenverBroncos.com. Retrieved May 17, 2023.
  32. ^ "Draft Central". www.xfl.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  33. ^ "Pita Taumoepenu Named 2023 XFL Defensive Player of the Year". www.xfl.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  34. ^ "XFL Transactions". XFL.com. Retrieved August 10, 2023.
  35. ^ Greenberg, Ethan (August 8, 2023). "Jets Sign DT Bruce Hector, DE Pita Taumoepenu". NewYorkJets.com. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  36. ^ Greenberg, Ethan; Allen, Eric (August 28, 2023). "Jets Make 4 Roster Moves Ahead of Final Cuts". NewYorkJets.com.
  37. ^ "Two players sign letters of intent with XFL". XFL.com. December 23, 2023. Retrieved December 27, 2023.
  38. ^ @UFL_PR (October 18, 2024). "The #UFL has announced the following transactions" (Tweet). Retrieved October 19, 2024 – via Twitter.
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