Career Summary
Naufahu Tahi came to BYU from Granger High School in West Valley City, Utah, and soon made an impact for the Cougars. As a true freshman, he led the team with 445 yards rushing on a team-high 102 carries before serving an LDS Church mission. Tahi returned to record a season-high four receptions for nine yards in the Cougars' season-opening win over Georgia Tech in his first football game in three years. The four-year letterwinner saw action in every game as a freshman, sophomore and junior, and missed just one game his senior year. Tahi had 97 carries for 497 yards and a career-high six touchdowns his final season, averaging 5.1 yards per carry and 45.2 rushing yards per game. He also recorded 41 receptions for 375 yards and two touchdowns, averaging 9.1 yards per reception.
Professional
- Signed a free agent deal with the Cincinnati Bengals in 2006
Personal
- Born in Fontana, California
- Parents are Manu and Sioseline Tahi
- Parents are from Tonga and the family moved to Utah in 1995
- One of four children
- Served a Church mission in Jacksonville, Florida
- Married to SaLote
- Recruited by Arizona, Utah, Colorado, Washington and Nebraska
Before BYU
- Named Prep Star All-American
- Selected by USA Today as the Utah Player of the Year
- Twice named all-state and was an all-league performer as a sophomore, junior and senior
- Selected as the Granger High School Most Valuable Player
- Registered over 5,700 yards rushing in four years at Granger and set the state high school record for rushing touchdowns
- Regarded as one of the top five recruits in the state of Utah
Stats
CAREER STATSYear Gm Att Gain Loss Net Avg. TD Long199911 102 471 26 445 4.4 2 282003 12 34 88 11 77 2.3 1 282004 11 93 366 27 339 3.6 5 18 TOTAL 23 136 559 37 522 3.8 3 28