2018 (Senior):
- Selected to the preseason Bronko Nagurski Award, Butkus Award, and Polynesian Player of the Year watch lists.
- Named all-Mountain West honorable mention despite an injury-shortened season.
- Named the team’s Coach Bob Wagner Defensive MVP for the second straight year.
- Played and started in eight games before suffering a season-ending injury against Nevada in October.
- Led the team in tackles up to that point with 82 wrap-ups, including 42 solo.
- Averaged 10.2 tackles a game.
- Accounted for 5.5 tackles-for-loss and 2.0 sacks.
- Also registered two pass breakups, one quarterback hurry, and one forced fumble.
- Blocked a kick at Army (Sept. 15) along with a season-high 15 tackles.
- Racked up 14 tackles and a season-high 3.0 tackles-for-loss at San Jose State (Sept. 29).
- Finished his career ranked second all-time at UH In tackles (391).
- 2018 Game-by-Game Statisitcs
2017 (Junior): Named to the all-Mountain West second team…also named team’s Coach Bob Wagner Defensive MVP...started all 12 games at middle linebacker…prior to the season, selected to the Chuck Bednarik, Bronco Nagurski, and Polynesian Player of the Year watch lists…led the team with 124 tackles (66 solo, 58 assisted)…ranked 10th nationally in total tackles and tackles per game (10.3)…topped the 100-tackle mark for the second straight season…also led the team and ranked in the top 10 in the Mountain West in sacks (5.5) and tackles-for-loss (11.0)…recorded 10 or more tackles in nine games…had a career-high 14 stops versus Colorado State (Sept. 30) and Fresno State (Nov. 11)… had 13 tackles and two sacks in a season-opening win over UMass…also had 13 tackles at Utah State…had 10 tackles and returned a fumble 15 yards in a win over Western Carolina…posted his second career interception along with eight tackles in a win over San José State…concluded junior season ranked eighth all-time at UH in tackles (309)…has started 26 straight games, tied for the longest active streak on the team.
* 2017 Game-by-Game Statistics
2016 (Sophomore): Received all-Mountain West first-team honors...named to the watch list for Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award...started all 14 games at ‘MIKE’ linebacker...led the team and ranked sixth in the Mountain West and 29th nationally with 129 total tackles (86 solo, 43 assisted)...became the first UH player to record over 100 tackles in a season since 2011...also topped the Mountain West and finished 18th in the NCAA with 19.5 tackles-for-loss...recorded a team-high and MW sixth-best 7.0 sacks on the year...also finished with two forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, one interception, one pass breakup and four quarterback hurries...collected his first interception and fumble recovery against UT Martin (Sept. 10)...his interception came in the endzone to squash a UT Martin scoring drive...reached double-digit tackles in eight games, topped by a career-high 14 stops versus UNLV (Oct. 15), including nine solo stops and 1.5 for loss...also reached 13 tackles twice, against California (Aug. 27) in Australia and at Air Force (Oct. 22)...twice reached career highs of 3.0 tackles-for-loss, at San José State (Oct. 8) and in a key rivalry win at Fresno State (Nov. 19)...recorded career highs of 2.0 sacks in the double-overtime victory at Air Force and versus Massachusetts (Nov. 26)...received MW Defensive Player of the Week honors on Oct. 24, following the Air Force game, highlighted by a sack and forced fumble that set up a critical UH touchdown.
* 2016 Game-by-Game Statistics
2015 (Freshman): Appeared in all 13 games, starting 11 contests at outside linebacker...ranked seventh on the team with 56 total tackles (26 solo, 30 assisted), including a 5.0 tackles-for-loss and 3.0 sacks, which ranked second on the team...recorded the lone safety of the year, dragging down San José State (Nov. 21) quarterback Kenny Potter for a sack...recorded a season-high eight tackles at New Mexico (Oct. 17) with a half sack...also recorded seven stops with a sack against Fresno State (Nov. 14)...registered 1.5 TFL twice, at UNLV (Nov. 7) and versus San José State...made at least four tackles in nine games...proved another skill in his repertoire with a pair of rugby-style punts against Louisiana Monroe (Nov. 28), averaging 54.0 yards.
* 2015 Game-by-Game Statistics
2014: Redshirted.
Prep: A 2014 graduate of Mira Costa High School in Manhattan Beach, Calif…rated as the No. 305 athlete nationally by 247Sports…played on the defensive line and at tight end…served as team captain…as a senior, named all-CIF Southern Section Northern Division first team and all-Bay League first team…recorded 67 tackles at nose guard and had 20 receptions and two touchdowns at tight end...had three sacks and scored on a touchdown reception in a CIF-SS Northern Division playoff game win over Highland…helped Mira Costa to a second-place Bay League finish and to the quarterfinals of the Northern Division playoffs…had 55 tackles and an interception as a junior while garnering all-league and all-area honors...also a standout in rugby...named to the U.S. National U-18 rugby team...led Mira Costa to an undefeated 2014 season and the Division 2 state championship…a two-time all-state and All-American selection...also lettered in volleyball and track...Bay League champion in the discus as a sophomore.
Personal: Born in Inglewood, Calif...full name is Jahlani Karl Tavai...major is family resources...has five brothers and one sister...younger brother Justus is a sophomore defensive lineman for the Warriors...two older brothers also played Division I football...Jordan was a defensive lineman at Kansas, while J.R. was a linebacker at USC and the Tennessee Titans...parents are William and Nafanua Tavai of Inglewood, Calif.
