USF Athletics

A senior linebacker transfer from Utah who played in 38 games for the Utes over five years in Salt Lake City…will have one season of eligibility remaining.

2023: Saw action in nine games with one start...finished the season with a career-best 21 tackles (10 solo), 0.5 TFL. 0.5 sacks, ...registered a career-high 10 tackles (three solo) and 0.5 a sack at Navy (9/30), starting the game at linebacker....had three tackles vs. Western Kentucky (9/2), UAB (10/7) and FAU (10/14).

2022 (UTAH): Appeared in 13 games, making his first career start vs. San Diego State (9/17)…posted a career-best eight tackles and 0.5 TFL on the year…made a career-best three tackles against Southern Utah (9/10)…posted a pair of stops in the Pac-12 Championship game vs. No. 4 USC (12/2)…assisted on a TFL in a win at Arizona State (11/24).
 
2021 (UTAH): Saw action in 13 games on the season, recording five tackles and a pass breakup…had two stops vs. Weber State (9/2) and at San Diego State (9/18)…recorded a pass breakup in at USC (10/9)…added a solo tackle in a victory over Stanford (11/5). 

2020 (UTAH): Played in all five games on special teams during the COVID-19 shortened season...totaled three tackles.
 
2019 (UTAH): Played in seven games, recording five tackles…posted a pass breakup vs. Oregon State (10/12). 

2018: Redshirt season.
 
MT. CARMEL HS: Played linebacker and tight end as a three-star recruit at Mt. Carmel HS (Calif.)…did not play as a senior due to injury…had one sack, one interception, one fumble recovery and a blocked kick as a junior while also recording 29 catches for 315 yards and three touchdowns receiving in 2016…a 2017 second-team All-CIF San Diego selection in volleyball…also played basketball.
 
PERSONAL: Son of Vale and Christine Mata’afa … has one brother and two sisters … cousin Hercules Mata’afa was the 2017 Associated Press Defensive Player of the Year and a consensus All-American for Washington State and went on to play for the NFL’s Minnesota Vikings … full name is Andrew Joseph Mata’afa (pronounced mah-tah-ah-fah) … nickname is Drew.
 
MATA’AFA CAREER HIGHS:
Tackles            10, at Navy (9/30/23)
TFL                 0.5, (2x), Last at Navy (9/30/23)
Sacks              0.5, at Navy (9/30/23)
 
MATA’AFAGAME-BY-GAME STATS:
2023 Tackles (Total-Solo-Assists) 
WKU (3-3-0); Florida A&M (2-1-1); Navy (10-3-7); UAB (3-2-1); FAU (3-1-2) 

2022: Southern Utah (2-1-3); San Diego State (1-0-1); Arizona State (0-1-1); Stanford (0-1-1); USC (1-1-2)