Uona Kaveinga Athlete Profile - FTB

Uona Kaveinga

Linebacker 4

Ht/Wt

11"

233 lbs.

Class

Senior

Hometown

Hawthorne,

California

Last School

USC

Roster Years

2010-2012

Career Summary

Uona Kaveinga transferred to BYU as a reserve linebacker from USC. He started in all 26 games while lettering both seasons as a Cougar. As a junior Kaveinga was fourth on the team with 57 tackles. He recorded 106 total tackles during his career with nine tackles for loss, four forced fumbles and three pass breakups. He also registered 10 games with five tackles or more. Kaveinga was a valuable asset to BYU's defensive drive that earned a No. 1 national ranking in third-down defense and No. 2 in total defense in 2012. He was selected to an all-independent team as a junior and named to the Butkus Award watch list as a senior. See the season summary tabs below and the recognition and stats tabs for more details.

Professional

Signed free agent deal with the Denver Broncos in 2013

Personal

Speaks Tongan
Eagle Scout
Majoring in American studies

Before BYU

Prepped at Leuzinger High ...
2007 honors included Super Prep All-American, Prep Star All-American, ESPN 150, Prep Star Dream Team, Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best in the West first team, Orange County Register Fab 15, Tacoma News Tribune Western 100, Cal-Hi Sports All-State first team, All-CIF Western Division first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Bay League Defensive MVP as a senior linebacker
In 2006, he made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass second team, All-CIF Western Division first team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay first team and All-Bay League Co-Defensive MVP as a senior linebacker while totaling 147 tackles, 28 tackles for loss and 8 sacks
Made Cal-Hi Sports All-State Underclass Second Team, All-CIF Western Division First Team, South Bay Daily Breeze All-South Bay First Team and All-Bay League Co-Defensive MVP as a junior in 2006 while totaling 111 tackles, 9 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries and 4 forced fumbles

Other College

At USC - SOPHOMORE (2009): Reserve linebacker appeared in eight games, including San Jose State, Ohio State, Washington State, Oregon, Arizona State, Stanford, UCLA and Arizona
Made two tackles, including one solo and one assisted takedown against Washington State
FRESHMAN (2008): Reserve linebacker and special teams
Appeared in eight games, including Virginia, Ohio State, Oregon State, Oregon, Arizona State, Washington State, Arizona and Washington
Made 3 tackles, recording solo takedowns against Virginia, Washington and Washington State, including a tackle for loss of 4 yards at Virginia

BYU Hall of Fame

Freshman Year

Sophmore Year

Junior Year 2011

Earned letterman honors as a junior
Started all 13 games at middle linebacker
Phil Steele All-Independent Second Team
Forced four fumbles and recovered one while totaling 57 tackles, including 4.5 tackles for loss
Also had two quarterback hurries and one pass breakup
Recorded five tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss and forced a fumble in season opener vs. Ole Miss
Six tackles and forced one fumble vs. Utah
Five tackles and forced a fumble vs. UCF
Season-high eight tackles, one tackle for loss and one quarterback hurry vs. Utah State
Had six tackles, 0.5 tackle for loss and recovered a fumble at Oregon State
Totaled five tackles vs. TCU
Five tackles and 1.5 tackles for loss vs. Tulsa in Armed Forces Bowl

Senior Year 2012

Named to the Butkus Award Watch List
Earned letterman honors
Started all 13 games at middle linebacker
Finished season with 49 tackles
Added 4.5 tackles for loss, 0.5 sacks, one interception, one fumble recovery and two pass breakups
Posted five tackles and an interception ins eason opener
Recovered a fumble and returned it 23 yards vs. Weber State
Six tackles and one tackle for loss at Boise State
Had two tackles for loss at Georgia Tech
Season-best eight tackles vs. SDSU in the Poinsettia Bowl