Michael Tauiliili
Encyclopedia
Michael Tauiliili is an American football
linebacker. He played college football
for the Duke Blue Devils
at Duke University
, where he led the Atlantic Coast Conference
in total tackles during his senior year. He was not selected in the 2009 NFL Draft
, but was subsequently signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts
and was cut at the end of their training camp.
and raised by parents Daryl McMullen and Iva Brown. His father played basketball at Tennessee State University
. While at Duke University
, Michael Brown changed his name to Tauiliili, with the explanation that it was the name of his maternal great-great-great-grandfather, a Samoa
n high chief.
He attended Alief Taylor High School
, where he was a letter winner and team captain for three years. As a sophomore he recorded 102 tackles and was named a second-team all-district player. As a junior, he recorded 111 total tackles, 14 for loss, and three sacks
, and was named first-team all-district. As a senior, he recorded 121 total tackles, 15 for loss, four sacks
, and one interception
, and was again named a first-team all-district player. In his final two seasons, the team made state playoff appearances.
where he majored in political science
. As a true freshman in 2005, Tauiliili saw action in all 11 games, including 10 starts
. He was the leading rookie linebacker in the nation with 92 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, and three forced fumble
s. He was the seventh overall tackler in the Atlantic Coast Conference
(ACC). He was named the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year, a first-team Freshman All-American, Sporting News first-team Freshman All-ACC, and Scout.com
first-team Freshman All-American.
In 2006, he started all 12 games, and again led Duke in tackles, with 94 total, 10.0 for loss, and also recorded four quarterback hurries. That season, he became the second Blue Devil in school history to lead the team in tackles in both his freshman and sophomore years.
During the 2007 season, he started 11 of 12 games, sitting out the season-opener against Connecticut
due to his suspension. Tauiliili recorded 108 total tackles, including 13.0 for loss, three interceptions, four sacks, two broken up passes, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He finished third in the conference in tackles per game.
In 2008
, Tauliili started all 12 games, during which he recorded 140 total tackles, including 63 solo and 13.0 for loss, four interceptions, five broken up passes, five quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one recovered fumble. He led the conference in total tackles and was named a first-team All-ACC player. In the win, 31–3, against Virginia
, he recovered a fumble, forced a fumble, and intercepted a pass. For his performance in that game, the Walter Camp Foundation named him the National Defensive Player of the Week. Sports Illustrated named him a second-team Midseason All-American. After the season, the Walter Camp Foundation named him a second-team All-American. Tauiliili participated in the East-West Shrine Game
as captain of the East squad. He recorded a game-high of 18 tackles and was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player.
. During the 2008 season, Sports Illustrated compared him to former first-round draft pick Jonathan Vilma in terms of stature and playing style. Tauiliili was not selected in the draft, but was signed as a free agent to a two-year contract by the Indianapolis Colts
. The Colts cut Tauiliili on September 5, 2009.
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. 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...
for the Duke Blue Devils
Duke Blue Devils football
The Duke Blue Devils football program is a college football team that represents Duke University . The team is currently a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference , which is a Division I Bowl Subdivision of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Blue Devils compete in the Coastal...
at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, where he led the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
in total tackles during his senior year. He was not selected in 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...
, but was subsequently signed as a free agent by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
and was cut at the end of their training camp.
Early life
Tauiliili was born Michael Brown in Houston, TexasHouston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
and raised by parents Daryl McMullen and Iva Brown. His father played basketball at Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University
Tennessee State University is a land-grant university located in Nashville, Tennessee. TSU is the only state-funded historically black university in Tennessee.-History:...
. While at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
, Michael Brown changed his name to Tauiliili, with the explanation that it was the name of his maternal great-great-great-grandfather, a Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
n high chief.
He attended Alief Taylor High School
Alief Taylor High School
Alief Taylor High School is a public high school, located in Alief Independent School District in unincorporated Harris County, Texas. Opened in 2001, Alief Taylor is the newest high school in Alief ISD...
, where he was a letter winner and team captain for three years. As a sophomore he recorded 102 tackles and was named a second-team all-district player. As a junior, he recorded 111 total tackles, 14 for loss, and three 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...
, and was named first-team all-district. As a senior, he recorded 121 total tackles, 15 for loss, four 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...
, and one interception
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...
, and was again named a first-team all-district player. In his final two seasons, the team made state playoff appearances.
College career
He attended Duke UniversityDuke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
where he majored in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
. As a true freshman in 2005, Tauiliili saw action in all 11 games, including 10 starts
Starting lineup
A starting lineup in sports is an official list of the set of players who will actively participate in the event when the game begins. The players in the starting lineup are commonly referred to as starters, whereas the others are substitutes or bench players.The starters are commonly the best...
. He was the leading rookie linebacker in the nation with 92 tackles, including 10 tackles for loss, and three forced fumble
Fumble
A fumble in American and Canadian football occurs when a player, who has possession and control of the ball loses it before being downed or scoring. By rule, it is any act other than passing, kicking or successful handing that results in loss of player possession...
s. He was the seventh overall tackler in the Atlantic Coast Conference
Atlantic Coast Conference
The Atlantic Coast Conference is a collegiate athletic league in the United States. Founded in 1953 in Greensboro, North Carolina, the ACC sanctions competition in twenty-five sports in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association for its twelve member universities...
(ACC). He was named the ACC Defensive Freshman of the Year, a first-team Freshman All-American, Sporting News first-team Freshman All-ACC, and Scout.com
Scout.com
Scout.com is an integrated sports publishing company that produces both an Internet and print product. Scout has more than 2.1 million visitors...
first-team Freshman All-American.
In 2006, he started all 12 games, and again led Duke in tackles, with 94 total, 10.0 for loss, and also recorded four quarterback hurries. That season, he became the second Blue Devil in school history to lead the team in tackles in both his freshman and sophomore years.
During the 2007 season, he started 11 of 12 games, sitting out the season-opener against Connecticut
2007 Connecticut Huskies football team
The 2007 Connecticut Huskies football team represented the University of Connecticut in the 2007 college football season as a member of the Big East Conference. The team was coached by Randy Edsall and played its home games at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut...
due to his suspension. Tauiliili recorded 108 total tackles, including 13.0 for loss, three interceptions, four sacks, two broken up passes, two quarterback hurries, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery. He finished third in the conference in tackles per game.
In 2008
2008 Duke Blue Devils football team
The 2008 Duke Blue Devils football team represented the Duke University in the college football season of 2008-2009. The team was led by head coach David Cutcliffe...
, Tauliili started all 12 games, during which he recorded 140 total tackles, including 63 solo and 13.0 for loss, four interceptions, five broken up passes, five quarterback hurries, three forced fumbles, and one recovered fumble. He led the conference in total tackles and was named a first-team All-ACC player. In the win, 31–3, against Virginia
2008 Virginia Cavaliers Football Team
The 2008 Virginia Cavaliers football team represented the University of Virginia during the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Football Bowl Subdivision college football season. It was Virginia's 55th season as a member of the Atlantic Coast Conference . The Cavaliers were led by...
, he recovered a fumble, forced a fumble, and intercepted a pass. For his performance in that game, the Walter Camp Foundation named him the National Defensive Player of the Week. Sports Illustrated named him a second-team Midseason All-American. After the season, the Walter Camp Foundation named him a second-team All-American. Tauiliili participated in the East-West Shrine Game
East-West Shrine Game
The East–West Shrine Game is an annual post-season college football all-star game played each January since 1925. The game is sponsored by the fraternal group Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, and the net proceeds are earmarked to some of the Shrine's charitable works, most notably the Shriners...
as captain of the East squad. He recorded a game-high of 18 tackles and was named the Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Indianapolis Colts
The NFL Draft Scout ranked Tauiliili as the 17th out of 149 inside linebacker prospects for the 2009 NFL Draft2009 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...
. During the 2008 season, Sports Illustrated compared him to former first-round draft pick Jonathan Vilma in terms of stature and playing style. Tauiliili was not selected in the draft, but was signed as a free agent to a two-year contract by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
. The Colts cut Tauiliili on September 5, 2009.
External links
- Tauiliili up to challenge, News & Observer, October 25, 2008.
- Boyette, Tauiliili lead Blue Devils, News-Record, p. C11, March 30, 2008.
- Duke's Tauiliili reinstated after arrest, USA TodayUSA TodayUSA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
, August 16, 2007.