(Jan. 2, 2019) -- UTSA linebacker Josiah Tauaefa has announced he will forgo his senior season and enter the 2019 NFL Draft.
Tauaefa led the Roadrunners with 113 tackles, 11.5 tackles for loss, 4.5 sacks and three quarterback hurries in 2018. One of 10 semifinalists for the Butkus Award, which recognizes the nation's top linebacker, the Corinth, Texas, native also tallied 62 solo stops and a pair of forced fumbles as a junior. Tauaefa, who was named honorable mention All-Conference USA by the league’s head coaches, registered double-digit tackles in six contests, including five of the final six weeks, and his 113 stops stand as the second-best season in program history behind the 115 he posted in 13 games as a freshman in 2016.
“Josiah certainly developed into one of the best players in UTSA history and that was because of his hard work and dedication to be the best he could be,” head coach Frank Wilson said in a statement. “He was also an outstanding representative of the university off the field in the way he carried himself and contributed to the community. We thank Josiah for all that he did for this program and our university, and we wish him the best of luck as he pursues his professional dream. He’ll always be a Roadrunner for life.”
Tauaefa released the following statement via Twitter:
“First off, I’d like to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to play the sport I love. I also want to thank my family for their constant love and support throughout my entire collegiate career. Lastly, I’d like to thank the University of Texas-San Antonio and everyone that has had a hand in my career here at UTSA as well as all the coaches who have given me an opportunity to compete at the Division I level. With that being said, I am choosing to forego my senior year and declare for the NFL draft. Now and forever, I am a Roadrunner.”
Tauaefa burst onto the scene as a redshirt freshman in 2016, becoming the program’s first-ever Freshman All-American and also collecting C-USA Freshman of the Year and first-team all-league accolades after his record-setting season. He posted nine TFL, six sacks and a pair of pass breakups.
Despite missing more than a third of his sophomore season due to injury, Tauaefa tallied 29 tackles, two tackles for loss, a sack, two PBUs and a fumble return for a touchdown.
The Lake Dallas High School product finished his collegiate career ranked second on UTSA’s career chart with 257 total tackles, 136 assisted tackles and 121 solo stops. He also stands third in program history with 11.5 sacks and fourth with 22.5 tackles for loss.
Learn more about UTSA Athletics.
Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram and LinkedIn.
UTSA Today is produced by University Communications and Marketing, the official news source of The University of Texas at San Antonio. Send your feedback to news@utsa.edu. Keep up-to-date on UTSA news by visiting UTSA Today. Connect with UTSA online at Facebook, Twitter, Youtube and Instagram.
Aproduction of the Gudalupe Cultural Arts Center, Rio Bravo showcases the vibrant music and dance traditions of the Texas-Mexico border region. Featuring the Guadalupe Dance Company and Mariachi Azteca de América, the performances will be filmed live both nights, courtesy of UTSA's College of Liberal and Fine Arts.
UTSA Downtown CampusCheer on our Roadrunners as they face Houston Christian University. Featuring a special halftime show with Ballet Folklórico Sol de San Antonio and Mariachi Los Paisanos performing with the Spirit of San Antonio Marching Band.
AlamodomePubMed is an essential database for anyone conducting biomedical or health-related research. This workshop will teach attendees how to navigate this free resource effectively and locate peer-reviewed articles using basic & advanced search features, MeSH subject headings, and Boolean operators.
Virtual EventIn this workshop, we will review the basic concept of metadata and how it can influence digital projects, particularly those that include images like exhibits and mapping. Through the lens of preserving cultural heritage, you will learn about some of the more popular types of metadata schema and participate in a hands-on Dublin Core cataloging exercise.
CEDISH Co-Lab 3.02.38, 3rd Floor, John Peace LibraryMariachi Los Paisanos & Mariachi Juviniles will perform. Free and open to the public.
UTSA Recital HallAre you looking for a job/internship? Connect with over 60+ employers to learn more about their job/internship opportunities. All students and classifications are welcome to attend.
HEB BallroomsJoin UTSA Libraries and Museums to learn more about the publishing discounts available for UTSA researchers. Current agreements include Elsevier, Cambridge University Press, Springer Open, and more. Please bring your questions and feedback for the library as we continue to pursue partnerships with publishers to reduce costs for our researchers.
Virtual EventThe University of Texas at San Antonio is dedicated to the advancement of knowledge through research and discovery, teaching and learning, community engagement and public service. As an institution of access and excellence, UTSA embraces multicultural traditions and serves as a center for intellectual and creative resources as well as a catalyst for socioeconomic development and the commercialization of intellectual property - for Texas, the nation and the world.
To be a premier public research university, providing access to educational excellence and preparing citizen leaders for the global environment.
We encourage an environment of dialogue and discovery, where integrity, excellence, inclusiveness, respect, collaboration and innovation are fostered.
UTSA is a proud Hispanic Serving Institution (HSI) as designated by the U.S. Department of Education .
The University of Texas at San Antonio, a Hispanic Serving Institution situated in a global city that has been a crossroads of peoples and cultures for centuries, values diversity and inclusion in all aspects of university life. As an institution expressly founded to advance the education of Mexican Americans and other underserved communities, our university is committed to promoting access for all. UTSA, a premier public research university, fosters academic excellence through a community of dialogue, discovery and innovation that embraces the uniqueness of each voice.