Search
Close this search box.

Tua Tagovailoa Boosts Total Of Hawaii Players Starting In The NFL To Seven

It’s an amazing time for Hawaii football and especially for a young man out of Ewa Beach.

Tua Tagovailoa will get his first NFL start for the Miami Dolphins (3-3) on Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams (5-2). Game time in Hawaii is 8 a.m. on KHON-TV (Fox).

Tagovailoa grew up playing for Ewa Beach Pop Warner and then the Saint Louis Crusaders before starring for the Alabama Crimson Tide. He got into his first real NFL game two weeks ago, in NFL Week 6, and went 2-for-2 for 9 yards as Ryan Fitzpatrick’s backup.

His first NFL start will be “one of the most anticipated moments of Week 8,” wrote ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe.

Fitzpatrick’s stats so far this season — four touchdown passes and five interceptions — have been underwhelming.

The drafting of Tagovailoa at No. 5 overall in April has made the Hawaii kid the most talked about Dolphins quarterback since Dan Marino, who threw for more than 61,000 yards in his Hall of Fame career from 1983 to 1999.

Tagovailoa is one of seven players with Hawaii ties who are starting in the NFL. There are five others playing backup roles, three more on practice squads, and one who is on a roster but opted out for the season due to COVID-19. See the list of the 16 players below, followed by each player’s 2020 stats so far.

Editor’s note: Email Nick Abramo at [email protected] for any players with Hawaii ties missing on the list below.

HAWAII’S 7 NFL STARTERS

HOUSTON TEXANS

Kaimi Fairbairn
>> Kicker, jersey No. 7
>> Punahou Buffanblu
>> UCLA Bruins
>> 6-0, 183 (fifth season)

———————————————–

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS

DeForest Buckner
>> Defensive tackle, jersey No. 99
>> Punahou Buffanblu
>> Oregon Ducks
>> 6-7, 295 (fifth season)

———————————————–

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS

Kamelei Correa
>> Linebacker, jersey No. 55
>> Saint Louis Crusaders
>> Boise State Broncos
>> 6-3, 241 (fifth season)

———————————————–

MIAMI DOLPHINS

Kamu Grugier-Hill
>> Linebacker, jersey No. 51
>> Kamehameha Warriors
>> Eastern Illinois Panthers
>> 6-2, 223 (fifth season)

——

Tua Tagovailoa
>> Quarterback, jersey No. 1
>> Saint Louis Crusaders
>> Alabama Crimson Tide
>> 6-0, 217 (first season)

———————————————–

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES

Nate Herbig
>> Guard, jersey No. 6
>> Saint Louis Crusaders
>> Stanford Cardinal
>> 6-4, 334 (second season)

———————————————–

PITTSBURGH STEELERS

Tyson Alualu
>> Defensive end, jersey No. 94
>> Saint Louis Crusaders
>> Cal Bears
>> 6-3, 304 (11th season)

HAWAII’S 5 NFL BACKUPS

DALLAS COWBOYS

Bradlee Anae
>> Defensive end, jersey No. 56
>> Kahuku Red Raiders
>> Utah Utes
>> 6-3, 257 (first season)

———————————————–

DENVER BRONCOS

Netane Muti
>> Guard, jersey No. 52
>> Leilehua Mules
>> Fresno State Bulldogs
>> 6-3, 315 (first season)

———————————————–

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS

Marcus Kemp
>> Wide receiver, jersey No. 19
>> Layton Lancers (Utah)
>> Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
>> 6-4, 210 (third season)

———————————————–

LAS VEGAS RAIDERS

Marcus Mariota
>> Quarterback, jersey No. 8
>> Saint Louis Crusaders
>> Oregon Ducks
>> 6-4, 222 (sixth season)

———————————————–

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS

Alohi Gilman
>> Safety, jersey No. 32
>> Kahuku Red Raiders
>> Notre Dame Fighting Irish
>> 5-10, 201 (first season)

HAWAII’S 3 ON NFL PRACTICE SQUADS

CHICAGO BEARS

Manti Te’o
>> Linebacker, jersey No. 49
>> Punahou Buffanblu
>> Notre Dame Fighting Irish
>> 6-1, 241 (seventh season)

———————————————–

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Hercules Mata’afa
>> Defensive tackle, jersey No. 51
>> Lahainaluna Lunas
>> Washington State Cougars
>> 6-2, 254 (third season)

———————————————–

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS

John Ursua
>> Wide receiver, jersey No. 15
>> Kealakehe Waveriders
>> Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
>> 5-9, 182 (second season)

HAWAII’S 1 ON NFL RESERVE/OPT OUT ROSTER

NEW YORK JETS

Leo Koloamatangi
>> Offensive line, jersey No. 63
>> Sacred Hearts Prep Raiders (California)
>> Hawaii Rainbow Warriors
>> 6-4, 310 (second season)

———————————————————————————————-

NFL PLAYERS With HAwaii Ties
2020 Season Stats

>> Alualu (Steelers): 16 tackles, 1 sack, 3 pass breakups
>> Anae (Cowboys): 1 game, 1 quarterback hurry
>> Buckner (Colts): 6 games, 28 tackles, 2.5 sacks, 1 safety
>> Correa (Jaguars): 2 games, 3 tackles, 1 pass breakup
>> Fairbairn (Texans): 12-for-14 on FGs, long of 50; 16-for-17 on XPs
>> Gilman (Chargers): 5 games, 2 tackles
>> Grugier-Hill (Dolphins): 18 tackles, 1 sack
>> Herbig (Eagles): 7 games as a starter at guard
>> Kemp (Chiefs): 1 catch for 11 yards
>> Mariota (Raiders): No games played so far
>> Mata’afa (Vikings): 3 games, 1 tackle
>> Muti (Broncos): No games played so far
>> Tagovailoa (Dolphins): 2-for-2, 9 yards passing
>> Te’o (Bears): No games played so far
>> Ursua (Seahawks): No games played so far

Top Stories

2022 Hawaii High School Football Command Center

2022 Hawaii High School Football Command Center

Isi Holani’s Death At 24 Is Another In A Long String Of Hawaii Football Tragedies

Isi Holani’s Death At 24 Is Another In A Long

Opinion: Expect No Hawaii High School Football This Fall

Opinion: Expect No Hawaii High School Football This Fall

New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Aims For September 2023 Opening

New Aloha Stadium Entertainment District Aims For September 2023 Opening

The NFL Likes Money, The World Wants Safety; Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off

The NFL Likes Money, The World Wants Safety; Let’s Call

Hawaii High School Football And Other Sports Moved to January

Hawaii High School Football And Other Sports Moved to January

BREAKING: Punahou Defensive Back Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen Commits To UNLV

BREAKING: Punahou Defensive Back Kilinahe Mendiola-Jensen Commits To UNLV

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Assertive Kahuku Defense Takes Control In 29-17 Conquest Of Mililani

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Assertive Kahuku Defense Takes Control In 29-17

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Fueled By Ezra And Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Aiea Storms Past Kailua 41-0 And Into OIA D-I Title Game

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Fueled By Ezra And Elijah Nahoopii-Makakona, Aiea

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Two Defensive Stops Were Crucial In Mililani’s 39-29 OIA Semifinal Victory Over Campbell

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: Two Defensive Stops Were Crucial In Mililani’s

SEE: 7 Videos And A Photo Gallery Of Kahuku’s 29-17 Football Win Over Mililani

SEE: 7 Videos And A Photo Gallery Of Kahuku’s 29-17

Implausible Rally Lifts Kaiser Over Pearl City 31-24 In OT And Into The OIA D-II Final And State Tournament

Implausible Rally Lifts Kaiser Over Pearl City 31-24 In OT

Related Post

Bring It On!!!! Says Kahuku’s Liona Lefau, Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s Player Of The Week

Bring It On!!!! Says Kahuku’s Liona Lefau, Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s

No human is invincible. But, ahhh, Liona Lefau is coming pretty close on the high school football field lately. There

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: The Art Of Holding Down The Fort In The OIA (Part I, Pearl City Chargers)

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: The Art Of Holding Down The Fort

—– PART 1 of 2: The Pearl City Chargers —– Weeeell, doggies, that was a weekend of football. If you

Nine Veterans And Four 2020 Draftees Lead This Year’s Crop Of Hawaii High School Grads In The NFL

Nine Veterans And Four 2020 Draftees Lead This Year’s Crop

Seven players who graduated from high school in Hawaii are returning veterans with NFL teams and two others are veteran

WEEK 3 Wrap: Waimea Loses Opener; Liberty Upends No. 5 Saint Louis

WEEK 3 Wrap: Waimea Loses Opener; Liberty Upends No. 5

Waimea was itching to finally get its season underway, but came up short 38-21 to Buckeye Union of Arizona at

A Pivotal Decision To Stay Home By Eventual Bedrock Sports Hawaii Players Of The Year Kainoa Carvalho And Liona Lefau Lit The Fire To Kahuku’s Astounding State Championship Season

A Pivotal Decision To Stay Home By Eventual Bedrock Sports

A pact forged by familial and brotherly love was the first real step Kahuku took on its upward arc to

TEN VIDEOS From The Saint Louis Crusaders’ 35-21 ILH Championship Victory Over Kamehameha

TEN VIDEOS From The Saint Louis Crusaders’ 35-21 ILH Championship

Missed the game because fans weren’t in the stands? Missed it on TV? Bedrock Sports Hawaii was there, so take

Implausible Rally Lifts Kaiser Over Pearl City 31-24 In OT And Into The OIA D-II Final And State Tournament

Implausible Rally Lifts Kaiser Over Pearl City 31-24 In OT

—– It all had all the ingredients of the first time Kaiser and Pearl City met Sept. 16. This time,

Kalani Quarterback Logan Lim Earns Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s Football Player Of The Week Honor

Kalani Quarterback Logan Lim Earns Bedrock Sports Hawaii’s Football Player

It was a tough choice, but Kalani’s Logan Lim beat out Kaiser’s Easton Yoshino and Kamakana Mahiko, Kealakehe’s Sheynen-Wyatt Nahale

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: DJ Sends Over His Campbell Sabers Big Boys First

FOCUS ON FOOTBALL: DJ Sends Over His Campbell Sabers Big

—– FOCUS ON FOOTBALL — A column by Nick Abramo — This “Focus On Football” column is not where you’ll

WATCH: 6 Videos Of Kapaa’s 51-0 D-II State Football Semifinal Victory Over Hawaii Prep

WATCH: 6 Videos Of Kapaa’s 51-0 D-II State Football Semifinal

Missed the game at Farrington’s Skippa Diaz Stadium on Wednesday night? Missed it on TV? Bedrock Sports Hawaii was there,

Campbell Football Team’s Jonah Tavui Was The Story Within A Story In Saturday’s Loss to Kahuku

Campbell Football Team’s Jonah Tavui Was The Story Within A

It’s not always only about the winners. Compelling, dramatic stories sometimes come from the losing side. Such was the case

WATCH: 11 Videos From No. 1 Kahuku’s 49-23 OIA Title-Clinching Win Over No. 5 Campbell

WATCH: 11 Videos From No. 1 Kahuku’s 49-23 OIA Title-Clinching

Missed the game in Ewa Beach on Saturday night? Missed it on TV? Bedrock Sports Hawaii was there, so take

Bedrock Sports Hawaii Stories Emailed To Your Inbox:

Bedrock's YouTube Channel: