Taki Taimani

Last updated
Taki Taimani
No. 94 – Minnesota Vikings
Position: Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-10-06) October 6, 1999 (age 24) [1]
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
Weight:309 lb (140 kg)
Career information
High school: East (Salt Lake City, Utah)
College: Washington (2018–2021)
Oregon (2022–2023)
Undrafted: 2024
Career history
Roster status:Active
Player stats at PFR

Sam "Taki" Taimani (born October 6, 1999) [1] is an American professional football nose tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies.

Contents

Early life and high school

Taimani attended East High School located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Coming out of high school, Taimani was rated as a four-star recruit and he committed to play college football for the Washington Huskies. [2] [3]

College career

Washington

During week three of the 2020 season, Taimani notched five tackles in a win over the Utah Utes. [4] In week five of the 2021 season, Taimani recovered a fumble which he returned 13 yards inside the Beavers ten-yard line, however, the Huskies fell to Oregon State. [5] During week ten of the 2021 season, Taimani made the start where he tallied four tackles in a loss against Oregon. [6] During Taimani's first four seasons at Washington from 2018 to 2021 he totaled 71 tackles with three and a half being for a loss, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery. [7] [8] [9] [10] After the 2021 season, Taimani entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal. [11] [12]

Oregon

Taimani transferred to play for the Oregon Ducks. [13] [14] In Taimani's final two collegiate seasons with Oregon in 2022 and 2023, he recorded 36 tackles with two and a half being for a loss, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery. [15] [16] [17]

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in
(1.87 m)		309 lb
(140 kg)		31+7⁄8 in
(0.81 m)		10+3⁄4 in
(0.27 m)		5.33 s1.84 s3.04 s5.03 s7.95 s25 in
(0.64 m)		8 ft 6 in
(2.59 m)		19 reps
All values from Pro Day [18] [19]

After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent. [20] [21] He was also selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 7th round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17, 2024. [22] Taimani made the Vikings' initial 53 man roster as a UDFA.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elijah Molden</span> American football player (born 1999)

Elijah Monroe Molden is an American professional football cornerback for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington and was drafted by the Tennessee Titans in the third round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Cade Otton is an American professional football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He previously played college football at Washington before being selected by the Buccaneers in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bralen Trice</span> American football player (born 2001)

Bralen Trice is an American professional football linebacker for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington. The Falcons drafted him in round 3 of the 2024 NFL draft at the 74th pick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Troy Fautanu</span> American football player (born 2000)

Troy Fautanu is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and won the 2023 Morris Trophy. Fautanu was selected by the Steelers in the first round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Corey Luciano is an American professional football center who is a free agent. He played college football for the Diablo Valley Vikings and Washington Huskies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Edefuan Ulofoshio</span> American football player (born 2000)

Edefuan Ulofoshio is an American professional football linebacker for the Buffalo Bills of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington.

Mishael Powell is an American football safety who will play for the Miami Hurricanes. He previously played for the Washington Huskies.

Jacob "Asa" Turner is an American football safety who will play for the Florida Gators. He previously played for the Washington Huskies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Rosengarten</span> American football player (born 2002)

Roger Rosengarten is an American professional football offensive tackle for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at Washington.

Julius Buelow is an American football offensive tackle for the Ole Miss Rebels. He previously played for the Washington Huskies.

Nate Kalepo is an American football offensive guard for the Ole Miss Rebels. He previously played for the Washington Huskies.

Dominique Hampton is an American professional football linebacker and safety for the Washington Commanders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Commanders in the fifth round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Devin Culp is an American professional football tight end for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies and was selected by the Buccaneers in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL draft.

Ulumoo "M.J." Ale is an American professional football defensive tackle who is a free agent. He played college football for the Washington Huskies.

Elijah Jackson is an American football cornerback for the Washington Huskies.

Ralen Goforth is an American professional football linebacker for the Green Bay Packers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and for the Washington Huskies.

Carson Bruener is an American football linebacker for the Washington Huskies.

Ephesians Prysock is an American football cornerback for the Washington Huskies. He previously played for the Arizona Wildcats.

Tuli Letuligasenoa is an American professional football defensive end who is a free agent. He played college football for the Washington Huskies.

Kamren Fabiculanan is an American football safety for the Washington Huskies.

References

  1. 1 2 "Taki Taimani". ourlads.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  2. ↑ Jude, Adam (9 December 2017). "Huskies get commitment from four-star lineman Sam Taimani". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  3. ↑ McDonald, Ryan (20 December 2017). "East lineman Sam Taimani signs with Washington". Deseret News. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  4. ↑ Raley, Dan (24 May 2020). "Identity Crisis? No, everyone knows Who Huskies' Taki Taimani Is". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  5. ↑ Raley, Dan (16 December 2021). "Taimani Leaves Disappointing UW Season Behind, Enters Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  6. ↑ Raley, Dan (8 October 2023). "When Taki Taimani Returns to Husky Stadium, Will UW Fans Notice?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  7. ↑ "Sam Taimani College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". Sports Reference. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  8. ↑ Raley, Dan (3 December 2020). "Taki Taimani Is an Effective Middle Manager for the Huskies". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  9. ↑ Raley, Dan (2 August 2021). "Taki Taimani Needs to Learn How to Be Great Washington Defender". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  10. ↑ Raley, Dan (6 October 2021). "If Anything Good Came Out of a Lost Night in Corvallis, It Was Taimani". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  11. ↑ Raley, Dan (31 December 2021). "Taimani Posts Photo of Himself in Oregon Uniform". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  12. ↑ Vorel, Mike (16 December 2021). "UW Huskies starting defensive lineman Sam 'Taki' Taimani enters NCAA transfer portal". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  13. ↑ Raley, Dan (14 October 2023). "Taimani Expected Backlash After Transferring from UW to Oregon". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  14. ↑ Vorel, Mike (6 January 2022). "Former UW Huskies starting DL Sam 'Taki' Taimani announces transfer to rival Oregon". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  15. ↑ Crepea, James (12 October 2023). "Oregon football nose tackle Taki Taimani excited to face Washington, his former team, 'especially back there'". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  16. ↑ "Sam Taimani 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  17. ↑ "Sam Taimani 2023 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  18. ↑ "2024 Pro Day Results" (PDF). GoDucks.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
  19. ↑ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Taki Taimani College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
  20. ↑ Dietz, Alec (28 April 2024). "Minnesota Vikings sign Oregon's Taki Taimani as undrafted free agent:What to know". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  21. ↑ Smalley, Don (27 April 2024). "Oregon DL Taki Taimani signs UDFA contract with Vikings". Ducks Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
  22. ↑ "2024 UFL College Draft: Showboats select Kansas QB Jason Bean with No. 1 pick". FoxSports.com. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.