Naufahu Tahi

Games and Starts

26 games/5 starts

Professional Biography

Became the Vikings primary fullback in 2008, paving the way for Vikings All-Pro RB Adrian Peterson to set a Vikings single-season record for yards with 1,760…Signed by the Vikings off Cincinnati’s practice squad on the same day veteran FB Tony Richardson was placed on injured reserve with a forearm fracture…Entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Bengals and spent the opening 10 weeks of the 2006 season on their practice squad.

NFL History

2008 Stepped into starting role for first time in his career…Helped pave the way for 2008 NFL rushing king Adrian Peterson who set Vikings records for single-season rushing yards (1,760) and games of 100+ yards (10) en route to becoming the 1^st Viking to lead the league in rushing…Allowed Peterson and fellow RB Chester Taylor to combine for 2,159 yards on the ground…Became the Vikings primary fullback in the third week of the season, replacing Thomas Tapeh…Played in all 16 games for the Vikings opening 5 contests…Caught 16 passes out of the backfield for 37-yards…Saw action on offense and special teams in the Vikings Wild Card matchup with the Eagles (1/4/09)…Returned 2 kickoffs for 31-yards with a long of 20…Contributed with 5 tackles and a fumble recovery on special teams.

 

2007 Earned his way onto the field as a rugged contributor on special teams and as a FB...Played in 1st career game in season opener vs. Atlanta (9/9) and posted 1st stats with 2 carries in the game...Missed game at Dallas (10/21) with knee injury suffered at Chicago (10/14)...Set career-high with 4 carries and 10 yards vs. Oakland (11/18).

2006 Signed by the Vikings off Cincinnati’s practice squad on 11/22/06 but did not suit up for any games…Inactive for games vs. Arizona (11/26), at Chicago (12/3), at Detroit (12/10), vs. N.Y. Jets (12/17), at Green Bay (12/21), and vs. St. Louis (12/31)…Originally entered the NFL as a college free agent with the Bengals, signing on 5/5/06…Spent the opening 10 weeks of the 2006 season on the Bengals’ practice squad…Went to training camp with Cincinnati and was released in final roster cuts on 9/2/06, then signed to the Bengals’ practice squad on 9/4/06.

 

College Information

Helped pave the way for BYU backs throughout his collegiate career…Equally adept at rushing the ball and catching it out of the backfield…Had career-best 872 yards from scrimmage as a senior and scored 8 TDs, 6 rushing and 2 receiving…Best single game of his career came against Notre Dame as a senior when he had 136 yards from scrimmage with 63 on the ground and 73 through the air…Led team in rushing as a freshman with 445 yards on the ground…Went to BYU as a freshman in 1999 before leaving on a Mormon mission in Jacksonville, FL for 3 years…Returned to school from 2003-05 to complete his college football career.

Personal Biography

Family are natives of Tonga, but he was born in California before moving to Utah as a child…Was out of football from 2000-03 while serving a Mormon mission in Jacksonville, FL…Attended Granger High in West Valley City, Utah…Named the USA Today Player of the Year for the state of Utah as a senior…Set a state record for rushing TDs…Ran for over 5,700 yards as a prep player.