Latest news with #Matavao
USA Today
11 hours ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80
Countdown to Kickoff: Moliki Matavao is the Saints Player of Day 80 Saints Player of the Day Moliki Matavao faces heavy competition for a roster spot. Today leaves 80 days before the New Orleans Saints kick off their 2025 regular season. New Orleans will start their year, 59th in franchise history, at home against the Arizona Cardinals. After a 5-12 finish last season, it will also be their first year under new head coach Kellen Moore. Rookie tight end Moliki Matavao will be sporting number 80 for the Saints through training camp. If he makes the team and keeps the number into the regular season, Matavao would become the 33rd Saint to don the jersey. Here's a look at his background as our Saints Player of the Day. Name (age): Moliki Matavao (22) Moliki Matavao (22) Hometown: Henderson, Nev. Henderson, Nev. Position: Tight end Tight end Height, weight: 6-foot-6, 260 pounds 6-foot-6, 260 pounds College: UCLA Bruins UCLA Bruins Relative Athletic Score: 6.59 6.59 Drafted: Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) Round 7, 248th overall (Saints) NFL experience: Rookie Rookie 2025 salary cap hit: $865,418 A graduate of Liberty High School in Nevada, Matavao began his collegiate career as a four-star recruit at the University of Oregon. Over two seasons with the Ducks, Matavao caught passes 19 passes for 209 yards and 2 touchdowns. After the 2022 campaign, Matavao would transfer to UCLA. In his first season with the Bruins, Matavao put up similar numbers with 14 receptions and 2 scores, but an explosive 283 yards and over 20 yards per catch. Last season was Matavao's most productive, pulling in 41 passes for 506 yards to lead the Bruins in both categories. New Orleans selected Matavao with their first of two choices in Round 7 of this spring's draft. He is the first tight end drafted by the Saints since Adam Trautman in 2020 and only the third tight end drafted by New Orleans since 2010. Since 2003, the Saints have only drafted Jimmy Graham, Alize Mack, Trautman, and Matavao at the position. Matavao faces stiff competition for a roster spot. Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, currently rehabbing a knee injury, have the top two spots essentially secured. Dallin Holker, Jack Stoll, Michael Jacobson, Treyton Welch, and Matavao will compete for probably one spot on the active roster and possible practice squad slots. While he has excellent size, Matavao is a better blocker than receiver. This will likely be the key to earning a job with the Saints in 2025.
USA Today
31-01-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Rams showing interest in UCLA TE who considers himself 'a Mark Andrews-George Kittle mix'
The Los Angeles Rams were aggressive in their search for tight end help last offseason, first signing Colby Parkinson in free agency and then trying to trade up for Brock Bowers in the draft. They ultimately failed to land Bowers, which allowed Jared Verse to fall into their lap, but they could be in the market for a tight end again this draft season. They've already shown interest in one prospect who plays close to home. In talking to Ryan Anderson of LAFB at the Senior Bowl this week, UCLA tight end Moliki Matavao said he's had multiple interviews with both the Rams and the Chargers already. Matavao played two seasons at Oregon before transferring to UCLA for his final two years of college, catching a total of 74 passes for 998 yards and six touchdowns across those four seasons. He's viewed as a Day 3 prospect but with his size (6-foot-6, 263 pounds), he has the frame of a modern-day NFL tight end. When asked who his game compares to, Matavao brought up the names Mark Andrews and George Kittle, saying he's a blend of the two. 'I'm like a Mark Andrews-George Kittle mix,' he said. 'Mark Andrews in the passing game is awesome. You know, how he runs his routes? Similar in stature to me. And then also George Kittle and how he's vicious in the run game and, when he gets the ball in his hands, he's a violent runner.' Even with Tyler Higbee, Parkinson and Davis Allen all under contract in 2025, the Rams are likely to add a tight end at some point this offseason and Matavao could be someone to target on Day 3.
