Matai Mata'afa

Class:
Redshirt Senior
Height:
6-1
Weight:
236
Position:
DL
Hometown:
Lahaina, Hawaii
High School:
Lahainaluna HS
Prev School:
Mississippi State

2025 (R-Sr. - Montana): Expected to compete for a starting job as a senior on the D-line and contribute heavily on special teams.

2024 (R-Jr. - Montana): Saw action in 13 of UM’s 14 games… Logged 8 total tackles (6 solo) as a primary backup at D-end and on special teams… Totaled 3 tackles for loss for 9 combined lost yards… Tallied his first career sack against Morehead State for a loss of 6 yards.

2023 (R-So. - Montana): Appeared in all 15 games as a backup D-Lineman for the Griz in his first season at UM… Logged four total tackles and two tackles for loss for 10 yards… Posted the first sack of his career at Utah Tech… Forced a fumble against Ferris State

2022 (R-Fr. - Mississippi St.): Appeared in two games, primarily on special teams, but did not log any stats.

2021 (Fr. - Mississippi St.): Appeared in one game... Redshirted his first year with the program... Made collegiate debut against FCS team Tennessee State

High School: Prepped at Lahainaluna High School in Hawaii… Was rated a 3-star prospect by 247sports… Helped Lahainaluna win the Hawaii D-II state championship as a junior… Also had an offer from Washington State… Older brother Hercules played for the Cougs before going on to the NFL.

Personal: Son of Uluao and Sophie Mata’afa … Has six siblings: Hercules, Saumalu, Lia, Anna, Gina Bella and Lalelei ... Tragically lost his family home in the 2023 Maui wildfires… Earned a degree from UM in business management in the spring of 2025