Taki Taimani
No. 94 – Minnesota Vikings | |
---|---|
Position: | Nose tackle |
Personal information | |
Born: | [1] Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S. | October 6, 1999
Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) |
Weight: | 309 lb (140 kg) |
Career information | |
High school: | East (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
College: | Washington (2018–2021) Oregon (2022–2023) |
Undrafted: | 2024 |
Career history | |
| |
Roster status: | Active |
Player stats at PFR |
Sam "Taki" Taimani (born October 6, 1999)[1] is an American professional football nose tackle for the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Oregon Ducks and Washington Huskies.
Early life and high school
[edit]Taimani attended East High School located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Coming out of high school, Taimani was rated as a four-star recruit and he committed to play college football for the Washington Huskies.[2][3]
College career
[edit]Washington
[edit]During week three of the 2020 season, Taimani notched five tackles in a win over the Utah Utes.[4] In week five of the 2021 season, Taimani recovered a fumble which he returned 13 yards inside the Beavers ten-yard line, however, the Huskies fell to Oregon State.[5] During week ten of the 2021 season, Taimani made the start where he tallied four tackles in a loss against Oregon.[6] During Taimani's first four seasons at Washington from 2018 to 2021 he totaled 71 tackles with three and a half being for a loss, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.[7][8][9][10] After the 2021 season, Taimani entered his name into the NCAA transfer portal.[11][12]
Oregon
[edit]Taimani transferred to play for the Oregon Ducks.[13][14] In Taimani's final two collegiate seasons with Oregon in 2022 and 2023, he recorded 36 tackles with two and a half being for a loss, a pass deflection, and a fumble recovery.[15][16][17]
Professional career
[edit]Height | Weight | Arm length | Hand span | 40-yard dash | 10-yard split | 20-yard split | 20-yard shuttle | Three-cone drill | Vertical jump | Broad jump | Bench press | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
6 ft 1+1⁄2 in (1.87 m) |
309 lb (140 kg) |
31+7⁄8 in (0.81 m) |
10+3⁄4 in (0.27 m) |
5.33 s | 1.84 s | 3.04 s | 5.03 s | 7.95 s | 25 in (0.64 m) |
8 ft 6 in (2.59 m) |
19 reps | |
All values from Pro Day[18][19] |
After not being selected in the 2024 NFL draft, Taimani signed with the Minnesota Vikings as an undrafted free agent.[20][21] He was also selected by the Arlington Renegades in the 7th round of the 2024 UFL draft on July 17, 2024.[22] Taimani made the Vikings' initial 53 man roster as a UDFA.
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Taki Taimani". ourlads.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Jude, Adam (9 December 2017). "Huskies get commitment from four-star lineman Sam Taimani". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ McDonald, Ryan (20 December 2017). "East lineman Sam Taimani signs with Washington". Deseret News. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (24 May 2020). "Identity Crisis? No, everyone knows Who Huskies' Taki Taimani Is". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (16 December 2021). "Taimani Leaves Disappointing UW Season Behind, Enters Transfer Portal". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (8 October 2023). "When Taki Taimani Returns to Husky Stadium, Will UW Fans Notice?". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Sam Taimani College Stats, School, Draft, Gamelog, Splits". Sports Reference. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (3 December 2020). "Taki Taimani Is an Effective Middle Manager for the Huskies". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (2 August 2021). "Taki Taimani Needs to Learn How to Be Great Washington Defender". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (6 October 2021). "If Anything Good Came Out of a Lost Night in Corvallis, It Was Taimani". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (31 December 2021). "Taimani Posts Photo of Himself in Oregon Uniform". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Vorel, Mike (16 December 2021). "UW Huskies starting defensive lineman Sam 'Taki' Taimani enters NCAA transfer portal". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Raley, Dan (14 October 2023). "Taimani Expected Backlash After Transferring from UW to Oregon". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Vorel, Mike (6 January 2022). "Former UW Huskies starting DL Sam 'Taki' Taimani announces transfer to rival Oregon". The Seattle Times. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Crepea, James (12 October 2023). "Oregon football nose tackle Taki Taimani excited to face Washington, his former team, 'especially back there'". OregonLive.com. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Sam Taimani 2022 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "Sam Taimani 2023 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "2024 Pro Day Results" (PDF). GoDucks.com. Retrieved September 6, 2024.
- ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Taki Taimani College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved August 3, 2024.
- ^ Dietz, Alec (28 April 2024). "Minnesota Vikings sign Oregon's Taki Taimani as undrafted free agent:What to know". The Register-Guard. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ Smalley, Don (27 April 2024). "Oregon DL Taki Taimani signs UDFA contract with Vikings". Ducks Wire. USA Today. Retrieved 5 August 2024.
- ^ "2024 UFL College Draft: Showboats select Kansas QB Jason Bean with No. 1 pick". FoxSports.com. July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 19, 2024.