Rey Maualuga

Reynold Tala Maualuga (born January 20, 1987) is a former American football linebacker.

He played college football at USC, and was recognized as a unanimous All-American.

Following his high school senior season, Maualuga played in the by-invitation 2005 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

Maualuga attended the University of Southern California, and played for coach Pete Carroll's USC Trojans football team from 2005 to 2008.

He was known for his emotional intensity both on the field and off.

Carroll's Trojans had previously developed strong linebackers such as Lofa Tatupu and Keith Rivers, as well as Maualuga's fellow senior teammates Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews III, which were touted as one of the most talented linebacker corps in college football.

As a freshman in 2005, Maualuga earned Freshman All-American first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and Scout.com; also he won USC's John McKay Award (most competitive spirit).

Off the field his career started with occasional spirited and reckless partying that led to an October 2005 incident where he got into a fight at a Halloween party and was arrested for misdemeanor battery.

He agreed in an arraignment diversion program that included counseling, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and community service resulting in the charges being dismissed.

Maualuga later noted that: "You learn that you're only given a certain number of chances. If you keep going back to the same things you were doing, it shows that you don't learn from anything."

In 2006, Maualuga returned in full form and was nominated for the Butkus Award and second team All-Pac-10.

He made his first start in place of injured senior Oscar Lua against Nebraska.

At the end of the 2007 regular season, Maualuga was selected to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team for the second year in a row by league coaches.

Maualuga was considered a top choice for the 2008 NFL Draft, but he decided to stay for his senior year in college.

He was the defensive player-of-the-game in the 2008 Rose Bowl.

Maualuga wears jersey number 58, which was previously worn by former Trojan linebacker and NFL Pro Bowl player Lofa Tatupu, who, like Maualuga, is also of Samoan descent.

Mindful of his heritage, Maualuga displays many bold, warrior-like Polynesian tattoos on his arms and legs.

Some NFL scouts have compared Maualuga to former Trojan and NFL linebacker Junior Seau and former Trojan and retired Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, both of Samoan descent, for their sideline-to-sideline aggressive style of defense play, and Polamalu's shared preference for displaying long Polynesian warrior-style hair tucked under their football helmet.

In addition to being named the 2008 winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award, Maualuga was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American, receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS Sportsline.com, College Football News, ESPN and Rivals.com.

Maualuga was one of twelve graduating 2008 senior USC players, including the four senior linebackers (Maualuga, Cushing, Maiava, and Matthews), invited to the 2009 NFL Scouting Combine.

He was drafted by the Cincinnati Bengals in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

He has also played for the Miami Dolphins.

Maualuga attended St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, California where he played on a team with Lorenzo Booker.

He moved to Eureka, California before his sophomore year where he played with future Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Maurice Purify.

His team, the Eureka High School Loggers completed their perfect 13-0 season with a North Coast Section championship at the Redwood Bowl during his junior year.

That year, he posted 146 tackles, 43 tackles for loss, 11 sacks and one interception.

In his senior year he had 96 tackles, 37 tackles for loss, four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns), two fumble recoveries, and one kickoff return for a touchdown.

Eureka achieved an impressive 20-2-1 win–loss–tie record during his junior and senior seasons.

Maualuga was also chosen to participate in the 2009 Senior Bowl with some of his other USC teammates.

In the lead up to the 2009 NFL Draft, Maualuga was ranked as one of the top middle linebackers entering the draft, alongside Ohio State's James Laurinaitis.

USC linebackers Maualuga, Cushing, and Matthews were all featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated's 2009 NFL Draft Preview magazine, as all three were regarded as potential first round selections.

Despite being projected as a first round pick, Maualuga was picked in the second round by the Cincinnati Bengals.

On December 30, 2009, Maualuga was placed on injured reserve due to a dislocated elbow.

He finished his rookie season with 64 tackles, one sack, three forced fumbles, and three pass deflections in 15 games started.

On November 16, 2012, Maualuga was fined $15,750 for unnecessary roughness against the New York Giants.

Maualuga signed a new two-year, $6.5 million contract with the Bengals on March 18, 2013.

He was projected by some, and expecting, to go 16th overall to the San Diego Chargers, who instead opted to select hybrid linebacker/defensive end Larry English out of Northern Illinois.

After being selected, Maualuga cried as he gave thanks to his late father and said he was thankful for his opportunity as "Nothing like this was ever expected for our family."

His selection came one year after the Bengals used a first-round pick to select Maualuga's college teammate, linebacker Keith Rivers.

On March 25, 2017, Maualuga was released by the Bengals.