Uona Kaveinga
Linebacker #4
Ht/Wt
5'
11"
|
233 lbs.
Class
Senior
Hometown
Hawthorne, 
California
Last School
USC
Roster Years
2010-2012


Career Summary

Uona Kaveinga transferred to BYU as a reserve linebacker from USC. He started in all 26 games while lettering both seasons as a Cougar. As a junior Kaveinga was fourth on the team with 57 tackles. He recorded 106 total tackles during his career with nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three pass breakups. He also registered 10 games with five tackles or more. Kaveinga was a valuable asset to BYU's defensive drive that earned a No. 1 national ranking in third-down defense and No. 2 in total defense in 2012. He was selected to an all-independent team as a junior and named to the Butkus Award watch list as a senior. See the season summary tabs below and the recognition and stats tabs for more details. 

Professional

  • Signed free agent deal with the Denver Broncos in 2013

Personal

  • Speaks Tongan
  • Eagle Scout
  • Majoring in American studies

Before BYU

  • Prepped at Leuzinger High ...
  • 2007 honors included Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, ESPN 150, Prep Star Dream Team, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Orange County Register Fab 15, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Western Division first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Bay League Defensive MVP as a senior linebacker
  • In 2006, he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass second team, All-CIF Western Division first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Bay League Co-Defensive MVP as a senior linebacker while totaling 147 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 8 sacks
  • Made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass Second Team, All-CIF Western Division First Team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay First Team and All-Bay League Co-Defensive MVP as a junior in 2006 while totaling 111 tackles, 9 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries and 4 forced fumbles

Other College

  • At USC - SOPHOMORE (2009): Reserve linebacker appeared in eight games, including San Jose State, Ohio State, Washington State, Oregon, Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona
  • Made two tackles, including one solo and one assisted takedown against Washington State
  • FRESHMAN (2008): Reserve linebacker and special teams
  • Appeared in eight games, including Virginia, Ohio State, Oregon State, Oregon, Arizona State, Washington State, Arizona and Washington
  • Made 3 tackles, recording solo takedowns against Virginia, Washington and Washington State, including a tackle for loss of 4 yards at Virginia
BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year

Sophmore Year

Junior Year 2011

  • Earned letterman honors as a junior
  • Started all 13 games at middle linebacker
  • Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team
  • Forced four fumbles and recovered one while totaling 57 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss
  • Also had two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup
  • Recorded five tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss and forced a fumble in season opener vs. Ole Miss
  • Six tackles and forced one fumble vs. Utah
  • Five tackles and forced a fumble vs. UCF
  • Season-high eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry vs. Utah State
  • Had six tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss and recovered a fumble at Oregon State
  • Totaled five tackles vs. TCU
  • Five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss vs. Tulsa in Armed Forces Bowl
Senior Year 2012

  • Named to the Butkus Award Watch List
  • Earned letterman honors
  • Started all 13 games at middle linebacker
  • Finished season with 49 tackles
  • Added 4.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups
  • Posted five tackles and an interception ins eason opener
  • Recovered a fumble and returned it 23 yards vs. Weber State
  • Six tackles and one tackle for loss at Boise State
  • Had two tackles for loss at Georgia Tech
  • Season-best eight tackles vs. SDSU in the Poinsettia Bowl
Graduate Year

Redshirt Year 2010

  • Redshirt at BYU per NCAA transfer rules
Medical Redshirt Year 2010

  • Redshirt at BYU per NCAA transfer rules


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