Vavae Malepeai

Last updated

Vavae Malepeai
Current position
TitleOffensive quality control analyst
Team Stanford Cardinal
Conference ACC
Biographical details
Born (1998-01-28) January 28, 1998 (age 27)
Aiea, Hawaii, U.S.
Alma mater University of Southern California (2019, 2021)
Playing career
2016–2021 USC
Position(s) Running back
Coaching career (HC unless noted)
2023–present Stanford (OQCA)

Vavae Malepeai (born January 28, 1998) is an American former football running back. He is currently an offensive quality control analyst at Stanford, a position he has held since 2023. Malepeai played for the USC Trojans.

Contents

Early years

Malepeai was born in 1998 in Aiea, Hawaii. He played football at Mililani High School where he became one of the best running backs in Hawaii high school football history. [1] He concluded his high school career with more rushing yards than any other player in state history. [2] He would originally commit to play at Oregon [3] but would switch his commitment to USC. [4]

College career

Malepeai enrolled at the University of Southern California in 2016. He was redshirted as a true freshman after suffering a broken shoulder blade in training camp. Despite having his season shortened due to injury, he led the 2019 USC Trojans football team with 503 rushing yards in eight games. [5] His 2019 season was cut short by a knee injury. [6] Malepeai later revealed that he had injured the knee in before the season began and played hurt, hoping he could fight through it. [7]

In 2020, he again led USC in rushing yardage. [2] [8]

Statistics

SeasonGamesRushingReceiving
GPGSAttYardsAvgTDRecYardsAvgTD
USC Trojans
2016 Redshirt Redshirt.svg
2017 130492615.30350.40
2018 121935015.4815887.30
2019 871055034.8615708.81
2020 53542384.43166412.80
2021 1241145024.4612655.40
Career 50154152,0054.823612924.81

Personal life

A native of Hawaii, his three uncles, Silila, Tasi and Pulou Malepeai, all played college football for the Oregon Ducks. [9]

In April 2024, he became engaged to Anna Smith a former USC women's soccer team starting goalkeeper. They wed in Hawaii in July 2025.

References

  1. ↑ "Super Soph: Mililanis Vavae Malepeai on pace to threaten the all-time best backs". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 19, 2013. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Billy Hull (September 1, 2021). "Talents Taing Flight". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. p. C1, C2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ Jacoby, Kenny (June 14, 2015). "Oregon football adds Hawaiian running back Vavae Malepeai". Daily Emerald . Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Mililani running back Vavae Malepeai signs with USC Trojans". KHON-TV . February 3, 2016. Retrieved February 4, 2025.
  5. ↑ "Vavae Malepeai". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  6. ↑ "USC's Vavae Malepeai to undergo knee surgery". Los Angeles Times. October 13, 2019.
  7. ↑ "USC's Vavae Malepeai: 'My Fault' For Not Disclosing Injury". Sports Illustrated. November 12, 2019.
  8. ↑ "No. 13 USC RB Malepeai unlikely to play in Pac-12 title game". Santa Maria Times. December 17, 2020. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "'Tailback U' called to USC's Malepeai, who chose not to follow family footsteps to Oregon". Los Angeles Times. September 25, 2018.


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