No. 96, 90 | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Position: | Defensive tackle | ||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||
Born: | Santa Ana, California, U.S. | December 30, 1983||||||||
Height: | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | ||||||||
Weight: | 345 lb (156 kg) | ||||||||
Career information | |||||||||
High school: | Nuuuli Poly Tech (Pago Pago, American Samoa) | ||||||||
College: | Coffeyville (2002–2003) Utah (2004–2006) | ||||||||
NFL Draft: | 2007 / Round: 4 / Pick: 108 | ||||||||
Career history | |||||||||
Career highlights and awards | |||||||||
Career NFL statistics | |||||||||
| |||||||||
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR |
Paul Fuapapa Soliai (born December 30, 1983) is an American former professional football player who was a defensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Utah Utes. He was selected by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round of the 2007 NFL Draft. He also played for the Atlanta Falcons and the Carolina Panthers.
Soliai, of Samoan descent, attended Rancho Alamitos High School in Garden Grove, California, before moving to American Samoa for his senior year, where he attended Nu'uuli Technical High School in Pago Pago and was the team captain.
Soliai spend two seasons at Coffeyville Community College in Coffeyville, Kansas. He was a two-time All-Kansas Jayhawk Community College Conference offensive lineman. He earned an honorable mention All-American selection in 2002, and was a First-team junior college All-American as a sophomore in 2003.
Considered a four-star recruit out of junior college by Rivals.com , Soliai was listed as the No. 32 non-high school player in the nation. [1]
Soliai transferred to the University of Utah in 2004 and was redshirted his first season with the Utes. He played in 12 games as a junior in 2005, with up five tackles, 1.5 of which were for a loss. He made four stops against rival Utah State, including an assisted tackle for a loss. He also had a 10-yard sack against Arizona.
In 12 games at nose guard as a senior in 2006, Soliai recorded 35 tackles (13 solo), 3.5 tackles for a loss, two sacks for 15 yards, four pass break-ups, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a blocked kick. He earned a Second-team All-Mountain West Conference selection.
In April 2007, Soliai measured a height of 6-feet-4 and a weight of 332 pounds at his Utah Pro Day. He ran the 40-yard dash in 5.02 seconds and 5.12 seconds, the short shuttle in 4.53 seconds and the three-cone drill in 7.77 seconds. He measured a 30½-inch vertical jump, but an elbow sprain prevented him from doing the 225-pound bench press.
Prior to the draft, Soliai was praised for his rare size, strength, quickness and athleticism, while also being criticized for his lack of technique and moves. [2] [3]
Height | Weight | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Wonderlic | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m) | 344 lb (156 kg) | 5.02 s | 1.63 s | 2.86 s | 4.53 s | 7.66 s | 30+1⁄2 in (0.77 m) | 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m) | 9 | |||
All values from NFL Combine, except for 40-yd dash (and splits), 20-ss, and vertical, which are from Utah Pro Day |
Soliai was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the fourth round (108th overall) of the 2007 NFL Draft, signing a four-year contract on June 7.
Before the NFL lockout, Soliai was franchise tagged by the Dolphins. They gave him a one-year guaranteed salary of at least $12 million, which was the average of the top 5 salaries at that position. This was made bloated by Albert Haynesworth's record-breaking $100 million contract from the Redskins.
On January 24, 2012, Soliai was added to the AFC Pro Bowl Roster to replace Ravens defensive tackle Haloti Ngata. [4]
On March 14, 2012, Soliai signed a 2-year extension with Miami worth $12 million, with $6 million guaranteed for the 2012 and 2013 seasons.
On March 11, 2014, Soliai agreed to terms with the Atlanta Falcons on a five-year, $33 million contract including $14 million guaranteed. In a week 8 game against the Detroit Lions at Wembley Stadium in London, Soliai was called for a holding penalty against Lions center Dominic Raiola. This penalty set up kicker Matt Prater for a game-winning 47 yard field goal, which he made, handing the Falcons a 22–21 loss and dropping them to a 2–5 record. [5] On December 29, 2015 Soliai was placed on injured reserve ending his season. [6]
On March 9, 2016, the Atlanta Falcons cut Soliai. [7]
Soliai signed with the Carolina Panthers on March 14, 2016. [8]
On February 21, 2017, Soliai was released by the Panthers. [9]
On April 19, 2018, Soliai signed a one-day contract to retire as a member of the Dolphins. [10]
Legend | |
---|---|
Bold | Career high |
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2007 | MIA | 8 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2008 | MIA | 14 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2009 | MIA | 14 | 5 | 25 | 22 | 3 | 0.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2010 | MIA | 16 | 14 | 39 | 33 | 6 | 2.0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2011 | MIA | 16 | 12 | 27 | 19 | 8 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2012 | MIA | 16 | 16 | 29 | 18 | 11 | 1.5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2013 | MIA | 15 | 15 | 34 | 19 | 15 | 1.0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2014 | ATL | 15 | 14 | 30 | 20 | 10 | 1.0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
2015 | ATL | 14 | 10 | 22 | 17 | 5 | 0.0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
2016 | CAR | 10 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
138 | 87 | 221 | 159 | 62 | 5.5 | 35 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
Year | Team | Games | Tackles | Interceptions | Fumbles | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
GP | GS | Cmb | Solo | Ast | Sck | TFL | Int | Yds | TD | Lng | PD | FF | FR | Yds | TD | ||
2008 | MIA | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Karlos Montez Dansby is an American former football linebacker who played in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for Auburn Tigers and received All-American recognition. He was selected by the Arizona Cardinals in the second round of the 2004 NFL Draft, and has also played for the Miami Dolphins, the Cleveland Browns, and the Cincinnati Bengals.
James Nathaniel Anderson is a former American football linebacker. He played college football at Virginia Tech and was drafted in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft by the Carolina Panthers.
Steve Fifita is a former American football defensive tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2006. He played college football at Utah.
Brent Omar Grimes is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Shippensburg University and signed with the Atlanta Falcons as an undrafted free agent in 2006. Grimes was allocated to the Hamburg Sea Devils of NFL Europa in 2006 and was part of the team that won World Bowl XV.
Philip Gregory Wheeler is a former American football linebacker. He was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts in the third round of the 2008 NFL Draft. He played college football at Georgia Tech.
Sean Lee Smith is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Miami Dolphins in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders. He played college football at Utah.
Christopher Todd Dillard Owens is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He played college football at San Jose State.
Brice Antwion McCain is a former American football cornerback. He was drafted by the Houston Texans in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Miami Dolphins, and Tennessee Titans. He played college football at Utah.
Nawa'akoa Lisiate Foti Analeseanoa "Koa" Misi is a former American football outside linebacker. He played college football at Utah.
Bruce Pernell Irvin Jr. is an American football linebacker for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Seattle Seahawks in the first round with the 15th overall pick of the 2012 NFL Draft. Irvin won Super Bowl XLVIII over the Denver Broncos, and also played in Super Bowl XLIX where he became the first player ever to be ejected from a Super Bowl. He played college football at West Virginia.
Isaako Aaitui is a former American football nose tackle. He was originally signed by the Miami Dolphins as an undrafted free agent in 2011. He played college football at UNLV.
Derrick Shelby is a former American football defensive end. He was signed by the Miami Dolphins after going undrafted in 2012. He played college football at Utah.
Terron Armstead is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the third round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He played college football at Arkansas–Pine Bluff.
Ricardo Jamal Allen is a former American football free safety and coach who was an offensive assistant for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fifth round of the 2014 NFL Draft where he played 7 seasons before playing his final season with the Cincinnati Bengals. He played college football at Purdue. He coached two seasons with the Dolphins and was released after the 2024 season.
Nathaniel Fakahafua Orchard is an American football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football at Utah and was drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft. He has also played for the Buffalo Bills, Kansas City Chiefs, Seattle Seahawks, Miami Dolphins, Green Bay Packers, Washington Redskins / Football Team, Houston Texans, and Tennessee Titans.
Nelson Eric Rowe Jr. is an American football safety who is a free agent. He played college football at Utah, and has played in the NFL for the Philadelphia Eagles, New England Patriots, and Miami Dolphins.
Deion Jones is an American football linebacker for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at LSU, and was selected by Atlanta Falcons in the second round of the 2016 NFL Draft.
Keanu Neal is an American football safety for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He was selected by the Atlanta Falcons with the 17th overall pick in the 2016 NFL Draft. He played college football at Florida.
De'Vondre Campbell is an American football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Hutchinson Community College before transferring to Minnesota, and was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the fourth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Campbell has also played for the Arizona Cardinals.
Foyesade Oluokun is an American football linebacker for the Jacksonville Jaguars of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Yale, and was drafted by the Atlanta Falcons in the sixth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He is notable for his proficient tackling ability, leading the NFL in total tackles for two straight seasons.