Josh Mauga
Encyclopedia
Joshua Mauga [ˈmɔːɡə] is an American football
linebacker
who is currently a member of the New York Jets
in the National Football League
. He was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
at Nevada
.
where he earned All-State and All-region honors. He was also the top heavyweight wrestler in the state of Nevada
.
All-Freshman team in 2005 after play all season games and notched 32 tackles
. In 2006 was second on the team with 56 tackles and also intercepted
3 passes. He moved from outside linebacker to the inside linebacker position in that year. In 2007 he was the WAC
leader in tackles before an MCL
injury kept him out, he tied on second on team tackles with 82. He was named team captain
, an honor rarely bestowed on a junior at Nevada. In his senior season he entered as a contender for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. He played through a torn pectoral muscle
managing 54 tackles, 7.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks
. He underwent surgery on his torn pectoral muscle on December 17 that cost him playing in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl
.
for the 2009 NFL Draft
. He was limited to cardiovascular
training and lower body weightlifting to be ready for the Nevada Pro Day.
. He was waived/injured on August 28 and subsequently reverted to injured reserve
, only to be released with an injury settlement on September 1.
Mauga was re-signed to the Jets' practice squad on December 10, 2009, but released December 20.
On September 3, 2010, the Jets waived Mauga who was unable to practice during training camp due to a concussion. Mauga was signed to the team's practice squad on September 6, 2010.
Mauga debuted for the Jets against the Green Bay Packers
.
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
who is currently a member of the New York Jets
New York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
. He was signed by the Jets as an undrafted free agent in 2009. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
at Nevada
Nevada Wolf Pack football
The Nevada Wolf Pack Football program represents the University of Nevada, Reno in college football. The Wolf Pack competes in the Western Athletic Conference at the Football Bowl Subdivision level of the NCAA...
.
Early years
Mauga graduated in 2005 from Churchill County High SchoolChurchill County High School
Churchill County High School is a high school in Fallon, Churchill County, Nevada.The Churchill County has a recorded history going back to 1916 though the school is older...
where he earned All-State and All-region honors. He was also the top heavyweight wrestler in the state of Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
.
College career
Mauga was named to The Sporting NewsThe Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
All-Freshman team in 2005 after play all season games and notched 32 tackles
Tackle (football move)
Most forms of football have a move known as a tackle. The primary purposes of tackling is to disposses an opponent of the ball, to stop the player from gaining ground towards goal or to stop them from carrying out what they intend....
. In 2006 was second on the team with 56 tackles and also intercepted
Interception (football)
An interception, intercept or pick is a move in many forms of football, including Canadian and American football, as well as rugby league, rugby union, Australian rules football and Gaelic football, which involves a pass, either by foot or hand, being caught by an opposition player, who usually...
3 passes. He moved from outside linebacker to the inside linebacker position in that year. In 2007 he was the WAC
Western Athletic Conference
The Western Athletic Conference is an American collegiate athletic conference, which was formed on July 27, 1962, making it the sixth oldest of the 11 college athletic conferences currently participating in the NCAA's Division I FBS...
leader in tackles before an MCL
Medial collateral ligament
The medial collateral ligament of the knee is one of the four major ligaments of the knee. It is on the medial side of the knee joint in humans and other primates. It is also known as the tibial collateral ligament, or abbreviated as the MCL.- Structure :It is a broad, flat, membranous band,...
injury kept him out, he tied on second on team tackles with 82. He was named team captain
Captain (sports)
In team sports, a captain is a title given to a member of the team. The title is frequently honorary, but in some cases the captain may have significant responsibility for strategy and teamwork while the game is in progress on the field...
, an honor rarely bestowed on a junior at Nevada. In his senior season he entered as a contender for WAC Defensive Player of the Year. He played through a torn pectoral muscle
Pectoralis major muscle
The pectoralis major is a thick, fan-shaped muscle, situated at the chest of the body. It makes up the bulk of the chest muscles in the male and lies under the breast in the female...
managing 54 tackles, 7.5 for loss and 3.5 sacks
Quarterback sack
In American football and Canadian football, a sack occurs when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage before he can throw a forward pass, or when the quarterback is tackled behind the line of scrimmage in the "pocket" and the intent of what he was going to do is unclear...
. He underwent surgery on his torn pectoral muscle on December 17 that cost him playing in the 2008 Humanitarian Bowl
2008 Humanitarian Bowl
The 2008 Humanitarian Bowl was a postseason college football bowl game between the Maryland Terrapins and the Nevada Wolf Pack on December 30, 2008. It was the two teams' first meeting. The game featured two conference tie-ins: the University of Maryland represented the Atlantic Coast Conference ...
.
Pre-draft
Mauga left Nevada alongside Marko MitchellMarko Mitchell
Marko Terrell Mitchell is an American football wide receiver who is currently a Free Agent. He was drafted by the Washington Redskins in the seventh round of the 2009 NFL Draft...
for the 2009 NFL Draft
2009 NFL Draft
The 2009 NFL Draft was the seventy-fourth annual meeting of National Football League franchises to select newly eligible football players. The draft took place at Radio City Music Hall in New York City on April 25 and 26, 2009. The draft consisted of two rounds on the first day starting at 4:00...
. He was limited to cardiovascular
Circulatory system
The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients , gases, hormones, blood cells, etc...
training and lower body weightlifting to be ready for the Nevada Pro Day.
2009
On August 16, 2009, Mauga signed with the New York JetsNew York Jets
The New York Jets are a professional football team headquartered in Florham Park, New Jersey, representing the New York metropolitan area. The team is a member of the Eastern Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. He was waived/injured on August 28 and subsequently reverted to injured reserve
Injured reserve
The injured reserve list is a list of reserved players who are injured and unable to play for a period of time, used most prominently in the National Hockey League and National Football League . It is used because these leagues have a maximum number of players on the team roster, so placing a...
, only to be released with an injury settlement on September 1.
Mauga was re-signed to the Jets' practice squad on December 10, 2009, but released December 20.
2010
He was re-signed to a future contract on January 6, 2010.On September 3, 2010, the Jets waived Mauga who was unable to practice during training camp due to a concussion. Mauga was signed to the team's practice squad on September 6, 2010.
Mauga debuted for the Jets against the Green Bay Packers
Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers are an American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. They are members of the North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League . The Packers are the current NFL champions...
.