Apefai Taifane

Height:
6-3
Weight:
300
Class:
Junior
Hometown:
Amanaye, American Samoa
High School:
Leone HS (West Hills College)

Expected to back up the centers this fall once he recovers from medical issues.

2018 -- Played in 10 games with seven starts at left guard in first season at Cal Poly ... missed only the opener at North Dakota State ... helped Mustangs to No. 4 national ranking in rushing offense, No. 1 in time of possession and No. 5 in third-down conversion ... did not play in 2019 Spring Game.

West Hills College -- Winner of the California Community College Athletic Association's Male Scholar-Athlete Award in February, Taifane earned all-state honors and was named to the All-America Community College first team in December as a sophomore at West Hills College in Coalinga ... the offensive lineman was the first football player to earn the statewide honor, the highest student achievement honor awarded annually by the CCCAA, in 11 years ... finished an amazing 54 units with a perfect 4.00 GPA over his first three semesters at West Hills and added 24 units during his final term ... a member of Phi Theta Kappa and served as a residential assistant and tutor ... pursued an associate of arts degree in liberal arts, emphasizing in social and behavioral science, at West Hills ... went on to earn the National Alliance of Two-Year College Athletic Administrators (NATYCAA) Scholar-Athlete Award ... landed on West Hills' honor roll all four semesters, was named West Hills College Scholar-Athlete of the Year and also claimed the West Hills College Coalinga Commitment to Excellence Award ... after seeing limited action in 2016 as a freshman tight end, Taifane was converted by head coach Justin Berna to help an inexperienced offensive line in 2017, starting every game and playing all five positions up front ... helped the Falcons to an 8-3 record and the 2016 Golden Coast League Championship, then played a key role in them winning the subsequent Northern California Football Conference American Division title ... as a sophomore, he led West Hills to a 6-3 record and was named All-Golden Coast, All-State Region II first team and first-team All-America ... Taifane was a team captain as a sophomore and was honored with West Hills' Commitment to Excellence Award by his teammates.

High School -- From Amanave, American Samoa, Taifane is a graduate of Leone High School in Pago Pago, where he played football for the Lions ... also recruited by Sacramento State, UC Davis, Tiffin University and Portland State, Taifane chose Cal Poly because "I feel like this is the right fit for me. The education is top notch and the coaching staff is supportive. Having family nearby is another huge factor that makes my decision 100 percent the best for me."

Personal -- Son of Apefai and Ninafauna Taifane ... one brother, Victor, who played football at Fresno State in the early 2000s ... wants to be a lawyer ... born in Pago Pago, American Samoa ... majoring in political science.