Southern Utah Thunderbirds Football - 2010 Roster/Bios

Lavell Ika # 49 Fullback - FB Height: 5-7  Weight: 228 Freshman Previous Schools    Bountiful HS Hometown    Salt Lake City, Utah Salt Lake City, UT

At SUU, 2009: Spent the season as a redshirt. Personal: Graduate of Bountiful High School where he played fullback and middle linebacker for coach Larry Wall’s Braves. Earned first-team all-region, second-team all-county and honorable meniton all-state honors his senior season when he rushed for 1,200 yards and made 30 tackles. Was also a starting inside center on the Highland Rugby team, which finished as national runner-up in 2006. Parents are Sione Talia’uli and Mele Tupoutaanea Ika. Is majoring in communication. Devin Tavana # 65 OL - OL Height: 6-3  Weight: 320 Junior Previous Schools    Kauai HS    Snow College Hometown    Saipipi, Samoa Saipipi, Samoa At SUU: Joined the team in January and participated in spring drills. At Snow College: Earned first-team NCJAA All-American honors as well as first-team all-Western States Football League recognition in 2009 when he helped the Badgers to a 10-2 record and a Top of the Mountains Bowl win. Also earned first-team all-WSFL recognition in 2008 when he helped Snow to a perfect 11-0 regular season mark before the team fell in the national championship game. Team ranked in the NJCAA top-10 in total offense both his seasons. Personal: Graduate of Kauai High School in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. Was a three-year letterman on the Red Raider football squad, helping the team to region and conference championships each year as well as a pair of appearances in the state championship game. Team went 41-3 during his high school career. Earned all-region, all-conference and all-state honors three times. Also lettered in basketball and track. Parents are Gaugau and Palagi Tavana. Plans to major in physical education. Eddie Mailoto # 33 LB - LB Height: 5-11  Weight: 240 Junior Previous Schools    Tafuna HS Hometown    Pava'la'i, American Samoa At SUU, 2009: Was a special teams standout and reserve linebacker. Tallied seven tackles in nine games, forced a fumble on a kickoff at Utah State. At SUU, 2008: Spent the season as a redshirt. Notched four tackles, three solo, in the 2009 spring game. Personal: Prepped at Tafuna HS where he earned four letters for Coach Jason Magalei. Tallied 57 tackles, seven sacks, 13 pass break-ups and three interceptions his senior season when he helped his team to a state championship and was named team’s defensive MVP. Parents are Suka and Tusiga Mailoto. Is majoring in criminal justice. Tui Siliva # 37 Fullback - FB Height: 6-1  Weight: 260 Senior Previous Schools    Leone HS Hometown    Pago Pago, American Samoa At SUU, 2009: Appeared in 10 games at fullback. Carried four times for eight yards and caught eight passes for 51 yards. At SUU, 2008: Tallied 12 tackles and broke up a pass playing special teams and safety last year. Moved to fullback during spring 2009. At SUU, 2007: Saw significant action both on special teams and at safety, tallied seven tackles, three solo. Personal: Graduate of Leone High School where he was named Most Dedicated and Most Improved Player in helping the Lions to the American Samoa and ASHAA championships his senior season. Tallied over 800 all-purpose yards his senior season for Coach Pati Pati, Jr. Parents are Maliumai and Tui Siliva. Is majoring in engineering technology. Jeff Tukuafu # 99 DL - DL Height: 6-4  Weight: 262 Redshirt Sophomore Previous Schools    Wasatch HS Hometown    Heber City, Utah Heber City, UT At SUU, 2009: Appeared in seven games at defensive tackle, finished with nine stops, three solo, with a pass break-up and a quarterback hurry. Had a season-high five tackles vs. North Dakota. At SUU, 2008: Spent the season as a redshirt. Tallied three tackles and had a quarterback hurry in the 2009 spring game. Personal: A first-team all-state performer as a tight end his senior season for Coach Steve North at Wasatch High School. Caught 50 passes for 614 yards as a senior, also played defensive end where he totaled 53 tackles with five sacks his final season. Was named team’s most inspirational player and helped his team to a region championship his senior year when the Wasps made it to the state semi-finals.  Was also an all-region performer in basketball, helping team to a runner-up finish in the state tourney. Parents are Jennifer Williams and Fua Tukuafu. Plans to major in business. Abbel Aiono # 15 Tight End - TE Height: 6-3  Weight: 265 Redshirt Junior Previous Schools    Granger HS Hometown    West Valley City, Utah West Valley City, UT At SUU, 2009: Started 10 games at tight end, caught 13 passes for 105 yards and a touchdown, averaged 8.1 yards per catch. Touchdown grab came at Cal Poly. At SUU, 2008: Caught two passes for 36 yards last season when he played in seven games. Caught five passes for 54 yards and a touchdown in SUU’s 2008 spring game. At SUU, 2004: Spent the season as a redshirt prior to serving an LDS Church mission. Personal: Earned all-state honorable mention and first-team all-region honors his senior season (2003) at Granger High School, where he played quarterback and along the defensive line. Also earned all-region honors in basketball and was a three-year starter in both football and basketball, at Granger and at Truman High School in Independence, Mo. Wife is the former Taylor Hinckley, parents are Seila and Alieta Aiono. Served an LDS Church mission to Honduras. Finance major. Robert Ah Sue # 8 WR - WR Height: 6-2  Weight: 217 Redshirt Senior Previous Schools    Ramona HS    Riverside CC Hometown    Riverside, Calif. Riverside, CA At SUU, 2009: Appeared in four games but did not catch a pass.  At SUU, 2008: Spent the season as a redshirt. At Riverside CC: Lettered two seasons for Coach Bill Brown at Riverside Community College. Caught 20 passes for 286 yards and a pair of touchdowns as a sophomore when he averaged 14.3 yards per catch. Also track & field letter-winner at RCC. Personal: Prepped at Ramona High School, where he was named school’s athlete of the year as well as the Marine Corps Athlete of the Year his senior season. Earned first-team all-league honors in football after racking up over 1,200 all-purpose yards on offense and tallying 47 tackles with two interceptions his senior season. Also lettered in track, qualifying for the state meet in the 100- and 200-meters and in the 4x400. A high honor roll student. Parents are Sandra and Herman Ah Sue. Is majoring in criminal justice.