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The Samoan Warrior of the NFL. |
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Stats & Stuff High School: Douglas High, Winston OR College: USC NFL: Pittsburgh Steelers
Associated Press’ second-team All-Pro squad…is a ferocious hitter with excellent speed…assumed the starting strong safety position in 2004.
2004: Finished tied for second on the team (with Chris Hope) during the regular-season with 97 total tackles (66 solo)…9/12 vs. Oakland: finished with six total tackles (three solo)...9/9 at Baltimore: made play after play on defense and helped hold Ravens’ running back Jamal Lewis to 62 yards…led the team with 14 tackles (10 solo)...9/26 at Miami: recorded his first pro interception and returned it 10 yards…finished with six total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with one pass defensed…played all 61 defensive snaps...10/3 vs. Cincinnati: scored the first TD of his pro career on a dramatic interception, which he returned 26 yards to seal the Steelers victory...his second interception in as many weeks…finished with six total tackles (five solo)…also was credited with two passes defensed...10/10 vs. Cleveland: finished with four total tackles (two solo)…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure and one pass defensed…logged all 59 defensive plays...10/17 at Dallas: registered seven total tackles (six solo)…was credited with two passes defensed…played all 63 defensive snaps...10/31 vs. New England: finished with three total tackles (two solo)…was credited with one pass defense…played all 55 plays…also one solo special-teams tackle...11/7 vs. Philadelphia: led the team with six total tackles, all solo…played 37 defensive snaps...11/14 at Cleveland: produced the first multiple interception game of his career…finished with two interceptions, giving him a team high four for the season…also recorded five total tackles (four solo)...11/21 at Cincinnati: finished with five total tackles (two solo)…was credited with one pass defense…played all 46 defensive snaps...11/28 vs. Washington: made some big hits once again…finished with seven total tackles (six solo)…logged all 56 defensive snaps...12/5 at Jacksonville: registered six total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with one pass defense and one special-teams tackle…played all 66 defensive plays...12/12 vs. N.Y. Jets: increased his team interception lead to five with a nifty first-quarter pick that set up the Steelers’ first score of the game…returned the interception 22 yards…finished nine tackles (five solo) and a pass defense...12/18 at N.Y. Giants: registered six total tackles (four solo)…was credited with two passes defensed and two special-teams tackles (one solo)…logged all 48 defensive plays...12/26 vs. Baltimore: collected four total tackles (two solo)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…played all 54 defensive snaps...1/2/05 at Buffalo: registered his first sack of the season (for seven yards), the third of his career, in his limited action…played 12 defensive snaps...1/15/05 vs. N.Y. Jets: registered the first postseason interception of his career…returned it 14 yards…finished with seven total tackles (four solo)…also was credited with a pass defense...1/23/05 vs. New England: finished with seven total tackles, including six solo stops.
2003: 9/7 vs. Baltimore: Played 30 defensive snaps…was credited with one solo special-teams tackle. 9/14 at Kansas City: Played 14 defensive snaps…finished with two tackles (one solo)…also was credited with one solo special-teams tackle. 9/21 at Cincinnati: Finished with three assists…played 16 defensive snaps…also was credited with two special-teams tackles (one solo). 9/28 vs. Tennessee: Had two assists…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure…logged 12 defensive plays. 10/5 vs. Cleveland: Registered one solo tackle…played 26 defensive snaps…also was credited with two special-teams tackles (one solo). 10/12 at Denver: Registered one solo tackle…also was credited with two quarterback hurries/pressures and one solo special-teams tackle…logged nine defensive plays. 10/26 vs. St. Louis: Just missed his first career interception when he stepped in front of a Marc Bulger pass but had the balls go through his hands…finished with four total tackles (three solos)…also was credited with a quarterback hurry and one pass defensed…played 41 defensive snaps. 11/2 at Seattle: Logged 17 defensive snaps…was credited with three special-teams tackles (one solo). 11/9 vs. Arizona: Finished with one solo tackle…also was credited with one quarterback hurry/pressure and one solo special-teams tackle…played 43 defensive snaps. 11/17 at San Francisco: Was credited with two solo tackles and three total special-teams tackles (one solo). 11/23 at Cleveland: Had his most productive day as a pro despite three key penalties…finished with four total tackles (two solos)…also was credited with a team-high four special-teams tackles (three solos) and three quarterback hurries/pressures…played 54 defensive snaps. 11/30 vs. Cincinnati: Registered his first career…played 29 defensive snaps…finished with four total tackles (all solos). 12/7 vs. Oakland: Had one assist and two solo special-teams tackles…also was credited with one pass defense…played 18 defensive snaps. 12/14 at N.Y. Jets: Had one assist…played 11 defensive snaps. 12/21 vs. San Diego: Registered his second career sack on which he forced his first fumble that was recovered by Deshea Townsend and led to a Steelers’ TD…finished with two total tackles (one solo)…also was credited with one pass defense and three special-teams assist. 12/28 at Baltimore: Recorded one assisted tackle…also was credited with a quarterback hurry/pressure…logged 29 defensive plays.
COLLEGE: Was a three-year starter who became the Trojans’ first two-time All- American since Tony Boselli (1992, 1994)...was one of three finalists for the 2002 Jim Thorpe Award, given to the nation’s top defensive back…recorded 278 tackles with 29 stops behind the line of scrimmage, six interceptions (returned three for touchdowns), 13 pass deflections, two fumble recoveries and four blocked punts during his career. 2002: Voted All-American first-team selection by The NFL Draft Report, Associated Press, Walter Camp, Football News, CBS Sportsline and ESPN, earning second-team honors from The Sporting News during his senior season…was one of three finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award…All-Pacific 10 Conference first-team choice…was a team captain and recipient of the team’s Most Inspirational Player Award and Co Lifter Award…started every game except against California…finished third on the team with 68 tackles (53 solo), including three sacks and nine stops for losses…intercepted one pass and deflected four others. 2001: Was a Football Writers Association, The NFL Draft Report and College & Pro Football News-Weekly All-American first-team selection, adding second-team by the Associated Press and third-team recognition from Football News…also was an All-Pac-10 Conference first-team pick…was a team captain and USC’s first All-American safety since Mark Carrier in 1989…also won USC’s MVP Award…led team with 118 tackles (79 solo), including 13 for losses (with a 2-yard sack) and six passes defensed...had a team best three interceptions, including two run back for touchdowns…also had two forced fumbles, a fumble recovery (to set up a TD), three blocked punts and three punt returns for 27 yards (9.0 avg.)…his 118 tackles were the most by a Trojan safety since Tim McDonald had 140 in 1986. 2000: Received All-Pac 10 honorable mention honors as a sophomore…started all 12 games at strong safety…finished second on the team in tackles with 83 (including 5 for losses), plus he tied for the team lead in both pass deflections (7) and interceptions (2). 1999: Played regularly as a backup safety and linebacker as a freshman...appeared in eight games, making 12 tackles, including two sacks for minus-28 yards, forced two fumbles, broke up a pass and blocked a punt...majored in general studies.
PERSONAL: Attended Douglas (Ore.) High School…named to 1998 Super Prep All-Northwest, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 and All-Far West League second team as a senior…played running back and defensive back...averaged six touchdowns a season…was an All-State center fielder and two-time All-League basketball player...brother, Kaio Aumua, played football at Texas-El Paso…is the nephew of former USC fullback Kennedy Pola (1982-85), now the Trojans’ running backs coach and special-teams coordinator…has another uncle, Al Pola, who played football at Penn State…has a cousin, Nicky Sualua, who was a running back with the Cincinnati Bengals and the Dallas Cowboys and attended Ohio State…is also the cousin of Leie Sualua, who was a defensive lineman at Oregon; and Joe Polamalu, who played for Oregon State in 1987 and 1988...is the son of Suila Polamalu...has one brother, Sakio Aumua, and three sisters, Tria Aumua, Sheila Aumua and Lupe Aumua...grew up with cousins Joe Polamalu, Darren Polamalu and Brandon Polamalu...lives in Tenmile, Oregon...Full name: Troy Aumua Polamalu.
All above information is from the Pittsburgh Steeler Website http://www.steelers.com
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