Marist Liufau

Marist Liufau
No. 35 – Dallas Cowboys
Position:Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2001-02-09) February 9, 2001 (age 23)
Kalihi, Hawaii, U.S.
Height:6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
Weight:234 lb (106 kg)
Career information
High school:Punahou (Honolulu, Hawaii)
College:Notre Dame (2019–2023)
NFL draft:2024 / round: 3 / pick: 87
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career NFL statistics
Total tackles:10
Stats at Pro Football Reference

Marist Liufau (born February 9, 2001) is an American professional football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.

Early life

Liufau attended Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii.[1] He was selected to play in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl. He committed to the University of Notre Dame to play college football.[2][3]

College career

In his first season at Notre Dame in 2019, Liufau appeared in four games and in 2020 he started three of 10 games and had 22 tackles and 0.5 sacks. He missed the 2021 season after suffering an ankle injury in practice.[4] Liufau returned from the injury in 2022 to start all 13 games and finished with 51 tackles, 0.5 sacks and an interception.[5] As a senior in 2023, he started all 12 games he played in, recording 44 tackles and three sacks. Liufau opted out of the 2023 Sun Bowl and entered the 2024 NFL draft.[6]

College statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Total Solo Ast Sack PD Int Yds TD FF FR TD
2019 Notre Dame 4 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2020 Notre Dame 10 3 22 10 12 0.5 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
2021 Notre Dame 0 0 DNP
2022 Notre Dame 13 13 51 22 29 0.5 1 1 0 0 0 1 0
2023 Notre Dame 12 12 44 23 21 3.0 2 0 0 0 1 1 0
Career 39 28 117 55 62 4.0 3 1 0 0 1 3 0

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split 20-yard shuttle Three-cone drill Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in
(1.88 m) 		234 lb
(106 kg) 		34+1⁄4 in
(0.87 m) 		9+7⁄8 in
(0.25 m)		 4.64 s 1.59 s 2.72 s 4.18 s 7.14 s 30.0 in
(0.76 m)		 9 ft 0 in
(2.74 m)		 16 reps
All values from NFL Combine/Pro Day[7][8][9]

Liufau was drafted by the Dallas Cowboys in the third round with the 87th overall selection in the 2024 NFL draft.[10]

NFL career statistics

Year Team Games Tackles Interceptions Fumbles
GP GS Total Solo Ast Sck Sfty PD Int Yds Avg Lng TD FF FR TD
2024 DAL 4 2 10 8 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0
Career 4 2 10 8 2 0.0 0 0 0 0 0.0 0 0 0 0 0

Personal life

Liufau is the cousin of Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua.[11]

References

  1. ^ Shimabuku, Christian (February 6, 2019). "Liufau ready to continue Punahou-Notre Dame pipeline". Hawaii Prep World. Archived from the original on August 17, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  2. ^ Hull, Billy (November 14, 2018). "Punahou's Marist Liufau headed to Notre Dame". Hawaii Prep World. Archived from the original on December 2, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  3. ^ "Notre Dame has key piece to Hawaiian pipeline in 2019 LB Marist Liufau". ND Insider. November 22, 2018. Archived from the original on April 1, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  4. ^ James, Tyler (August 26, 2021). "Notre Dame starting linebacker Marist Liufau lost for season with right ankle injury". ND Insider. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  5. ^ Farmer, Douglas (July 19, 2023). "Notre Dame 99-to-0: No. 8 Marist Liufau, fifth-year linebacker, second season as a starter". NBC Sports. Archived from the original on July 21, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  6. ^ Berardino, Mike (December 6, 2023). "Notre Dame football linebacker Marist Liufau opts out of Sun Bowl ahead of NFL Draft". ND Insider. Archived from the original on December 18, 2023. Retrieved January 25, 2024.
  7. ^ "Marist Liufau Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  8. ^ "2024 NFL Draft Scout Marist Liufau College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved March 23, 2024.
  9. ^ James, Tyler (March 21, 2024). "Notre Dame football testing results from Pro Day". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 20, 2024.
  10. ^ Brock, Todd (April 27, 2024). "5 things to know about Cowboys' No. 87 Pick, LB Marist Liufau". Cowboys Wire. USA Today. Retrieved May 26, 2024.
  11. ^ Walker, Patrik (April 26, 2024). "Marist Liufau to Cowboys as 3rd Round Pick". DallasCowboys.com. Retrieved April 26, 2024.