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.gif) | -1997 (Original) NFL
Draft Scout Website
by Coach Bill Walsh
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NFL Draft Scout
Featured In/On:
*Talanoa Hufanga, SS, Southern California
Selected: Round 5, Pick 36, Overall Pick 180 by 49ers
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Name: *Talanoa Hufanga
College: Southern California
Number: 15
School Bio/Stats Link: HERE
Height: 6-0 Weight: 199
Position: Pos2: OLB/ST
Class/Draft Year: Jr/2021
40 Low: 4.55 40 Time: 4.64 40 High: 4.68
> Projected Round: Stock: 
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Data Scout Notes: 2nd/Not as Fast/Shed Weight too/Good Box safety Tho **2020: WCamp1st/DPOYC/1stC...LottImpactSemifinalist...PNagurski/PThorpe/PLott/PBednarik...2019: 2ndC...(+) Oct 2019 Undisclosed INJ/Out
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Combine Results |
Pro Day Results |
Combine Invite: Yes
Height: 6003
Weight: 199
Zybek PD3X AKA "Official"
40 Yard Dash (ET):
40 Yard Dash (HH):
20 Yard (ET):
20 Yard (HH):
10 Yard (ET):
10 Yard (HH):
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225 Lb. Bench Reps:
Vertical Jump:
Broad Jump:
20 Yrd Shuttle:
3-Cone Drill:
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Dates: 03/24/21
Hand: 09 7/8 Arm: 32
Wingspan: 77 1/4
Height: 6003
Weight: 199
40 Yrd Dash: 4.64
20 Yrd Dash: 2.65
10 Yrd Dash: 1.63
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225 Lb. Bench Reps: 12
Vertical Jump: 35 1/2
Broad Jump: 10'08"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.39
3-Cone Drill: 6.96
40 Time Range: 4.63-4.64/Projected 4.52/-16 LBs
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*Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California, Player News
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USC safety Talanoa Hufanga has gone a slightly different route as he prepares for the 2021 draft, working instead with one of his Trojan predecessors, Hall of Famer Troy Polamalu. "I'm very grateful for him in my life. Getting to learn from him is unbeli evable," Hufanga said ahead of USC's pro day Wednesday. "When it comes to something I learned from him, it's so many things." Hufanga first met Polamalu in high school when training with Vai Sikahema, the first Tongan to play in the NFL. Sikahema asked w hom Hufanga liked to model his game after, and though Hufanga said he didn't model after anyone, his favorite player to watch was Polamalu. It's not hard to see the parallels in their games. Both were hard-hitting safeties capable of making tackles for l oss or interceptions depending on what the situation called for.Sikahema pulled his phone out on the spot and started a group text between them and Polamalu. Hufanga began to utilize the former Pittsburgh Steeler great as a resource through FaceTi me or phone calls. So when Hufanga declared for the NFL draft following his junior season, he put out the big ask to Polamalu. "When I asked if it was possible if I could train with him, it was something that he took thought into and ultimately said yes, " Hufanga said. "I've been off social media for three years and getting to have those conversations with him. I think that's [why] he kinda knows that when I meant I was all-in, I was all-in." - Orange County Register
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021  SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Orange County Register
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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2020 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM: DB Talanoa Hufanga, Jr., USC,...Hufanga led USC in tackles (62), interceptions (4) and forced fumbles (2) in 2020 and had 3 sacks. He ranks third nationally in interceptions (0.7) and 19th in tackles (10.3). He had an interception in 4 consecutive games this season, the first Trojan to do so since 1996. The junior is a semifinalist for the Lott IMPACT Trophy and was a semifinalist for the Witten Award. - Southern California Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Southern California Football
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Southern California safety Talanoa Hufanga is headed to the NFL after a standout junior season. Hufanga announced his plan to enter the draft Wednesday on his social media accounts. Hufanga was a first-team AP All-American and the Pac-12's Defensive Play er of the Year this season for the No. 21 Trojans (5-1). He led USC with 62 tackles and four interceptions while adding three sacks, 5 1/2 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles. Hufanga was a star for the Trojans when healthy throughout his three seaso ns on campus. The Oregon native started five games as a freshman before breaking his collarbone, and he made 90 tackles despite missing three games due to injuries in his sophomore season. - AP College Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: AP College Football
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2020 PAC-12 PAT TILLMAN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Talanoa Hufanga, USC,...Hufanga, a preseason first-team selection, led all Pac-12 defenders with four interceptions on the year (returned for 90 total yards) as well as 40 solo tackles. He is the firs t Trojan to win the Pac-12's top defensive honor since Adoree' Jackson in 2016. His 62 total tackles on the year ranked third-most in the Pac-12 and led all defensive backs. He had 10-or-more tackles in four of six games. - Pac-12 Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Pac-12 Football
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No. 13 Southern California became the sixth Pac-12 team to opt out of a bowl game Saturday, citing a recommendation from team doctors and discussions with players. The Trojans (5-1), who lost 31-24 to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game Friday night, would h ave been at risk of falling under the conference's minimum number of 53 available scholarship players because of positive tests for COVID-19 and injuries after playing their third game in 13 days. Coach Clay Helton also cited a desire by players to see f amily and friends during the holidays after being sequestered during the season. USC joins Stanford, UCLA, Utah, Washington and Washington State in ruling out bowl bids, with the Huskies still dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak that prevented them from fac ing the Trojans in the conference title game. - AP College Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: AP College Football
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DEC 14 PAC-12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Talanoa Hufanga, Jr., S, USC,...Hufanga had a game-high 17 tackles at UCLA (last year, he had 18 stops against the Bruins), including two for losses...In the second half as USC was coming back from an 18-point deficit, he forced a fumble that Troy recovered and had an interception (both led to Trojan touchdowns)...It was the fourth consecutive game he has had an interception, the first time that has happened at USC since Sammy Knight did so in 1996...On the ye ar, he has 50 tackles, averaging 10 a game...Also nominated: Nephi Sewell, LB, Utah; Jermayne Lole, DL, Arizona State; Gabe Reid, OLB, Stanford; Nahshon Wright, DB, Oregon State. - Pac-12 Conference Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Pac-12 Conference Football
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DEC 13 WALTER CAMP NATIONAL FBS DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: TALANOA HUFANGA, USC, Junior, Safety, Corvallis, OR/Crescent Valley HS,...Talanoa Hufanga registered 17 tackles (11 solo), including two for losses, forced one fumble and had one interception as 15th-ranked USC (5-0) defeated UCLA, 43-38. USC clinched the Pac-12 South Division title with the victory. Notes: Talanoa Hufanga is the sixth USC player to earn Walter Camp National Player of the Week honors since the award began in 2004, and the fi rst since former QB Cody Kessler (Oct. 19, 2014). - The Walter Camp Football Foundation
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: The Walter Camp Football Foundation
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One option that gives USC some flexibility is safety Talanoa Hufanga. The Trojans' leading tackler played some linebacker against Washington State as part of a package designed to defend against the spread. The idea was to use Hufanga's defensive back sp eed and linebacker build at 215 pounds to give the Cougars a look they had not seen from USC. While it was designed for a specific type of offense, Orlando isn't ruling it out as an option if further injuries force his hand. "We've also worked him in som e spots where he's been playing inside, you just don't see him because you're not at practices," Orlando said. "We have some flexibility, but once these things start to roll a little bit you have to be proactive in a plan." - Orange County Register
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Orange County Register
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Amon-ra St. Brown is not the only Trojans player with quick hands. While the receiver's four touchdown catches dominated No. 20 USC's 38-13 win over Washington State on Sunday, safety Talanoa Hufanga provided a defensive highlight with an interception he tipped to himself in the first quarter. The junior from Corvallis, Ore., had a team-high nine tackles, a five-yard sack and a 37-yard interception return as the Trojans (4-0) stayed atop the Pac-12 South with one regular-season game remaining. Hufanga's takeaway was his third interception in four games. With the Trojans already up 14-0, Hufanga tipped a pass from Cougars starter Jayden de Laura to himself, hurdled a would-be tackler and rumbled down the sideline to the four-yard line.As Clay Hel ton spoke after the game about the play, the coach's eyes got wide above the USC neck gaiter that covered his nose and mouth. "When he hurdled the guy, I was like, 'Oh my goodness," Helton said. "We're taking it to another level now." After the play, whi ch led to a four-yard touchdown pass from Kedon Slovis to St. Brown, Hufanga approached Helton on the sideline. That's why I'm here, the junior assured his coach. "I want to be able to help win a championship," Helton said of Hufanga's message. "He made some special plays tonight. He's playing really good football." - Los Angeles Times
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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2020 LOTT IMPACT TROPHY SEMIFINALIST: Talanoa Hufanga, S, USC,...Hufanga has 141 tackles, including 11 for losses (with 3.5 sacks), plus 7 deflections and 2 forced fumbles in his career. He has appeared in 18 games, with 15 starts. Among the nation's top safeties, will start again at strong safety as a 2020 junior. - USC Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: USC Football
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2020 BRONKO NAGURSKI TROPHY PRESEASON WATCH LIST: DB Talanoa Hufanga, USC,...Hufanga, a junior who made the All-Pac-12 second team last fall, was second on the Trojans in tackles in 2020 with 90, including 7.5 for losses. - USC Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: USC Football
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2020 PAYCOM JIM THORPE AWARD PRESEASON WATCH LIST: Talanoa Hufanga, USC, Jr.,...Hufanga was second on the Trojans in tackles in 2019 with 90, including 18 against UCLA (the most in a game by a Trojan since 2001). He also had 7.5 tackles for loss, 3 defle ctions and 2 forced fumbles last fall. He has 41 career tackles. He also has been named to the 2020 Bednarik Award Watch List (nation's top defensive player) and Lott IMPACT Trophy (nation's top defensive impact player). - USC Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: USC Football
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2020 PRESEASON BEDNARIK AWARD WATCH LIST: S Talanoa Hufanga, USC,...All-American linebacker Rey Maualuga was USC's only recipient of the Bednarik Award when he was honored in 2008. Hufanga, a junior who made the All-Pac-12 second team last fall, was seco nd on the Trojans in tackles in 2020 with 90, including 7.5 for losses. - USC Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: USC Football
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Even under the old USC defensive scheme, safeties were vital playmakers for the Trojans. Last season alone, Talanoa Hufanga finished second on the team with 90 tackles, despite missing three games, and Isaiah Pola-Mao finished third with 73 takedowns. Bu t under new defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, safeties like Hufanga and Pola-Mao will take on a new role, one their position coach describes as "the quarterbacks of the defense."Safeties in the new scheme will be tasked with relaying plays from the sidelines and putting their teammates in the right spots before the snap. It's not the most natural job for players like Hufanga and Pola-Mao, who are known as leaders by example instead of being vocal in the locker room or field. But both are embrac ing this new role. It's not necessarily new for Hufanga, who actually played quarterback in high school. And both recognize the importance of the job. "On the field, you're going to be vocal. I think that's regardless of being a quiet guy, or a loud guy, " Hufanga said. "For me, I think it's going to be the same. I want to lead and help guys, whether I'm in a vocal role or not." - Orange County Register
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Orange County Register
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NOV 25 PAC-12 DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Talanoa Hufanga, So., S, USC (Corvallis, Ore.),...Hufanga had a career-best 18 tackles in the 52-35 win over UCLA, the most in a game by a Trojan since Troy Polamalu had 20 vs. Utah in the 2001 Vegas Bowl. Inte restingly, Polamalu was at the USC-UCLA game, being honored for his induction into the College Football Hall of Fame...Hufanga had a game-best 2 tackles for loss, with a sack, and also broke up a pass. Also nominated: Khaylan Kearse-Thomas, LB, ASU; Evan Weaver, LB, CAL; Nate Landman, LB, COLO; Troy Dye, LB, ORE. - Pac-12 Football
(DS#1 SS) Jr/2021 SS *Talanoa Hufanga, Southern California
News Source: Pac-12 Football
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