| No. 53 – New York Giants | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position: | Linebacker | ||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||
| Born: | February 10, 2001 San Diego, California, U.S. | ||||||||
| Height: | 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m) | ||||||||
| Weight: | 234 lb (106 kg) | ||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||
| High school: | Mililani (Mililani, Hawaii) | ||||||||
| College: | Hawaii (2019–2021) UCLA (2022–2023) | ||||||||
| NFL draft: | 2024: 6th round, 183rd pick | ||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||
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| Roster status: | Active | ||||||||
| Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics as of 2024 | |||||||||
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Darius Muasau (born February 10, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the New York Giants of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Hawaii Rainbow Warriors and UCLA Bruins.
Muasau attended Mililani High School in Hawaii, where he was a linebacker and running back. As a senior, he was named to the USA Today All-USA Hawaii Football Second Team. [1]
Muasau committed to playing college football at Hawaii in 2018, the lone Division I FBS offer he received. [2] [3]
Muasau started the season as a backup linebacker and special teamer, but was thrust into action early in the season due to injuries to the Rainbow Warriors linebacking corps. [4] In his first career start against rival Fresno State, Muasau led the team in total tackles and also recovered a key onside kick that set up the then-game tying drive for Hawaii. [5]
In a stellar 2020 season, Muasau led the Rainbow Warriors in tackles as well as ranking fourth in the nation at solo tackles and fifth in total tackles. He was also named the most outstanding player on defense of the 2020 New Mexico Bowl, compiling nine tackles, one sack and an interception in the performance. [6]
Muasau was named an All-Mountain West first team selection in 2020, the only Hawaii player to garner first-team honors, as well as an honorable mention All-American by Phil Steele. [7] [8] He was also named a finalist for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award, but ultimately lost out to Zach Wilson and Talanoa Hufanga. [9]
Muasau had another productive season in 2021, compiling 108 total tackles, seven sacks, and five forced fumbles. After the season concluded, Muasau announced on December 28, 2021 that he would be entering the transfer portal.
On January 1, 2022, Muasau announced on social media that he would transfer to UCLA. [10]
| Year | Class | GP | Tackles | Def Int | Fumbles | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solo | Ast | Total | TFL | Sacks | INT | Yards | PD | FR | |||
| 2019 | Freshman | 13 | 44 | 16 | 60 | 3.0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2020 | Sophomore | 9 | 66 | 36 | 102 | 9.5 | 4.5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2021 | Junior | 13 | 65 | 43 | 108 | 14 | 7 | 1 | 75 | 4 | 1 |
| Career | 35 | 175 | 95 | 270 | 26.5 | 11.5 | 2 | 76 | 5 | 3 | |
| 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 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5 ft 11+7⁄8 in (1.83 m) | 225 lb (102 kg) | 31+1⁄2 in (0.80 m) | 9+1⁄2 in (0.24 m) | 4.70 s | 1.59 s | 2.72 s | 4.41 s | 7.23 s | 36.5 in (0.93 m) | 9 ft 9 in (2.97 m) | ||
| All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day [11] [12] | ||||||||||||
Muasau was drafted by the New York Giants in the sixth round, 183rd overall, of the 2024 NFL draft. [13] Muasau recorded an interception in his NFL debut against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1. [14]
Muasau's younger brother Sergio is currently an offensive lineman at Hawaii. [15]