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J.R. Tavai

Class: Junior Hometown: Redondo Beach, CA High School: Mira Costa HS

Height / Weight: 6-2 / 270 Position: DT Birthdate: 09/23/1993 Experience: 2V

CAREER: He has 21 tackles (including 2.5 for losses) in his career. He has 3 career starts.

2013: Tavai, who can play both defensive end and tackle, figures to get key playing time as a junior in 2013. He was slowed early in 2013 spring practice while recovering from a 2012 broken foot.

2012: Tavai was a backup at both defensive tackle and end as a sophomore in 2012. Overall in 2012 while appearing in 10 games (all but Stanford, California, Utah, all which he missed after getting injured against Syracuse), he had 17 tackles, including 2.5 for losses of 5 yards, and 1 deflection. He started 3 times, twice at end (Hawaii, Syracuse) and once at tackle (Arizona). He had 3 tackles (with 0.5 for a loss) against Hawaii, then 2 each against Syracuse (with 1 for a loss) and Washington. He added 6 tackles against Colorado and 1 each against Arizona, UCLA and Notre Dame. He had a tackle for a loss against Georgia Tech before being sidelined with a broken foot.

2011: Tavai was a backup defensive tackle as a freshman in 2011, his first year at USC. Overall in 2011 while appearing in 7 games (all but Minnesota, Utah, Arizona, Notre Dame and UCLA), he had 4 tackles. He missed the Minnesota game with a hamstring strain and the UCLA game with an ankle sprain. He had 2 tackles against Stanford.

HIGH SCHOOL: His 2010 honors included Super Prep All-Farwest, All-CIF Northern Division Defensive MVP, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Bay League MVP as a senior defensive lineman and fullback at Mira Costa High in Manhattan Beach (Calif.). He had 95 tackles with 12 sacks on defense in 2010 and 278 yards on 59 carries 4.7 avg.) with 3 TDs on offense.

As a junior in 2009, he was All-CIF Western Division Defensive MVP, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Bay League Defensive MVP while making 92 tackles (with 7 sacks). Mira Costa won the 2009 CIF Western Division title.

As a sophomore in 2008, he was All-CIF Western Division, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay second team and All-Bay League first team while getting 72 tackles (with 2 sacks). Mira Costa was a 2008 CIF Western Division finalist.

He also was on Mira Costa's track team (shot put, with a best of 55-4 1/4, and discus throw), earning 2011 South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay honors.

PERSONAL: His initials stand for John Robert.