Player Career

Jahlani Tavai Career Story

Career story, signature performances, transfer context, and season arc are grouped for biography-style searches.

Player Story

Jahlani Tavai story

Jahlani Tavai built his college career from 2014 through 2018 as a linebacker from Redondo Beach, CA wearing No. 31, spending time with Hawai'i. The clearest part of Jahlani Tavai's career was his defensive production: 334 tackles, 36 tackles for loss, 14.5 sacks, and 2 interceptions across 35 career games in the available record. His largest box-score season came in 2016 with Hawai'i. Those numbers show where he fit, how often the ball or action found him, and how his role developed over time.

Defensive careers can be hard to read from one number, but Jahlani Tavai's production has multiple signals. With 35 career games in the available record, his career has enough shape to show both opportunity and production across Hawai'i.

The arc is straightforward: Jahlani Tavai moved through the depth chart, found a larger role, and turned that opportunity into production that can be understood through standard football numbers.

Career Arc

Track team changes, role shifts, and season-to-season movement.

  1. 1

    Hawai'i

    2014-2018

    Opening stop

Season Value Progression

201420152016201620172018
SeasonTeamPrimaryEfficiencyUsageDelta
2014 Regular SeasonHawai'i0
2015 Regular SeasonHawai'i000
2016 PostseasonHawai'i33.560.817.233.5
2016 Regular SeasonHawai'i33.560.817.20
2017 Regular SeasonHawai'i23.559.919.2-10
2018 Regular SeasonHawai'i10.553.211-13

Signature Performances

Top Games

#1 Featured game

@ San José State

Week 5 · W 44-41 · Conference game

Win with 5 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

5

Havoc Plays

100 takeover

5 disruption/tackle impact with 100 takeover score.

#2

vs Fresno State

Week 11 · L 21-31 · Conference game

4

Havoc Plays

96.7 takeover

Loss with 4 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

4 disruption/tackle impact with 96.7 takeover score.

#3

@ Massachusetts

Week 1 · W 38-35

4

Havoc Plays

96.7 takeover

Win with backfield disruption leading the way.

4 disruption/tackle impact with 96.7 takeover score.

#4

@ San José State

Week 6 · W 34-17 · Conference game

5

Havoc Plays

94.2 takeover

Win with backfield disruption leading the way.

5 disruption/tackle impact with 94.2 takeover score.

#5

@ Wyoming

Week 4 · L 21-28 · Conference game

4

Havoc Plays

93.9 takeover

Loss with 4 impact plays across the defensive snap sheet.

4 disruption/tackle impact with 93.9 takeover score.

Top Seasons

#1 Season by Season Value

2016 Postseason · Hawai'i

33.5 primary output · 60.8 efficiency · 17.2 usage

79.7

#2

2016 Regular Season · Hawai'i

79.7

33.5 primary · 60.8 efficiency · 17.2 usage

#3

2017 Regular Season · Hawai'i

70.5

23.5 primary · 59.9 efficiency · 19.2 usage

Milestones

17

Impact games

17

Splash games

22

10+ tackle games