D. J. Tialavea

D.J. Tialavea
refer to caption
D. J. Tialavea in 2017
Free agent
Position: Offensive tackle
Personal information
Born: (1991-07-27) July 27, 1991
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
Weight: 260 lb (118 kg)
Career information
High school: West Jordan (UT)
College: Utah State
Undrafted: 2014
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career NFL statistics
Player stats at NFL.com

Donald Tialavea Jr.[1] (born July 27, 1991) is an American football offensive tackle who is currently a free agent. He played college football at Utah State University. He signed with the Jacksonville Jaguars in 2014 as an undrafted free agent. Tialavea was formerly a tight end prior to switching positions before the 2017 NFL season.

Early years

Tialavea attended West Jordan High School in West Jordan, Utah. During his high school football career, he also played on the offensive and defensive lines. In addition to being a three-year letterwinner in football, Tialavea was also a three-year letterwinner in basketball and baseball.[2]

College career

Tialavea appeared in 40 games for the Utah State Aggies. He ended his college career with 198 receiving yards and five touchdowns.[2]

Professional career

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tialavea was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars after going undrafted in the 2014 NFL Draft.[3] He was released on May 12, 2014.[4]

Buffalo Bills

After being released by the Jaguars, Tialavea was signed to the Buffalo Bills practice squad on September 2, 2014.[3] He was released by the Bills on September 30, 2014.[5]

Atlanta Falcons

Tialavea was signed to the Falcons' practice squad on November 24, 2015.[6] After spending almost two seasons on the practice squad, he was promoted to the active roster on December 22, 2016.[7] In his NFL debut two days later against the Carolina Panthers, Tialavea caught a touchdown for his only reception of the day.[8]

Tialavea was inactive for the Falcons' 34-28 overtime loss to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.[9][10]

On September 1, 2017, Tialavea was released by the Falcons.[11]

Chicago Bears

On September 20, 2017, Tialavea was signed to the Chicago Bears' practice squad.[12] He was released on September 26, 2017.[13] He was re-signed on December 27, 2017.[14]

Personal life

D.J.'s parents are Don and Tami Tialavea. He has two sisters. Tialavea graduated from Utah State with an interdisciplinary studies degree with a focus in business management and physical education administration.[2] D.J. is also an Eagle Scout.[15]

References

  1. ↑ "About Us". thedontialaveafoundation.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "Utah State Bio". utahstateaggies.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  3. 1 2 "TE D.J. Tialavea to Practice Squad". buffalobills.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  4. ↑ "Jaguars release 6, including G Will Rackley". sandiegouniontribune.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  5. ↑ "TE Jamie Childers signed to Bills Practice Squad". buffalobills.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  6. ↑ "Tialavea Signed to Practice Squad, Jensen Waived". atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  7. ↑ Jackson, Curtis. "Falcons Waive Therezie, Goodman; Promote Keyes, Tialavea". atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  8. ↑ "Tialavea emerges as unlikely hero for Falcons - Philadelphia Herald". www.philadelphiaherald.com. Retrieved 25 December 2016.
  9. ↑ Weaver, Tim (February 5, 2017). "Falcons vs. Patriots: Final inactives for Super Bowl LI". USA Today. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  10. ↑ "Super Bowl LI - New England Patriots vs. Atlanta Falcons - February 5th, 2017". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved 6 August 2017.
  11. ↑ Conway, Kelsey (September 1, 2017). "2017 Atlanta Falcons Roster Cuts Tracker: Deadline To 53 Is 4 P.M. ET On Saturday". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  12. ↑ "Report: D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad". 247sports.com. September 20, 2017.
  13. ↑ Gantt, Darin (September 26, 2017). "Bears add two to practice squad, bringing back Tre McBride". ProFootballTalk.NBCSports.com.
  14. ↑ "D.J. Tialavea signed to Bears practice squad". 247Sports.com. December 27, 2017.
  15. ↑ Wendell, Bryan (January 27, 2017). "Atlanta Falcons tight end D.J. Tialavea is an Eagle Scout. On January 3, 2018, Tialavea married former Gonzaga and BYU-Hawaii volleyball player Kalistina Takau". Bryan on Scouting. Retrieved February 5, 2017.
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