Hauʻoli Kikaha
American football player (born 1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hauʻoli Kikaha (born July 24, 1992) is an American former professional football player who was a linebacker in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Washington Huskies, earning unanimous All-American honors in 2014. He was selected by the New Orleans Saints in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft.
Hauʻula, Hawaii, U.S.
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| Position | Linebacker | ||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||
| Born | July 24, 1992 Hauʻula, Hawaii, U.S. | ||||||||||
| Listed height | 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) | ||||||||||
| Listed weight | 246 lb (112 kg) | ||||||||||
| Career information | |||||||||||
| High school | Kahuku (Kahuku, Hawaii) | ||||||||||
| College | Washington (2010–2014) | ||||||||||
| NFL draft | 2015: 2nd round, 44th overall pick | ||||||||||
| Career history | |||||||||||
| Awards and highlights | |||||||||||
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| Career NFL statistics | |||||||||||
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Early life
Kikaha attended Kahuku High & Intermediate School in Kahuku, Hawaii. He is from Hauʻula, Hawaii. He played defensive end and tight end. As a senior in 2009, he was named Honolulu Star-Bulletin's defensive player of the year.[1] Kikaha was rated as a three-star recruit by Rivals.com.[2] In January 2010, he committed to the University of Washington to play college football.[3]
College career
Kikaha played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2010, making seven starts. He finished the season with 49 tackles and three sacks.[4] He started the first four games of his sophomore season in 2011, before tearing his ACL causing him to miss the rest of the season.[5][6] Prior to 2012, Kikaha tore his ACL for a second time, causing him again to miss the season.[7] Kikaha returned in 2013 and started every game for the Huskies. He finished the season with 13 sacks and 70 tackles.[8] As a senior in 2014, Kikaha broke Daniel Te’o-Nesheim school career sack record of 30.[9] In 2014 as a result of being named a first-team All-American by the Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, the Walter Camp Football Foundation and The Sporting News, Kikaha became the sixth unanimous All-American in school history.[10]
Professional career
New Orleans Saints
Kikaha was drafted in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft, 44th overall.[11] After having a strong training camp and pre-season, he began the season as the starting outside linebacker for the Saints. He recorded his first career sack in Week 2 when the Saints played the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Kikaha sat out Week 9 with an ankle injury and then only played 8 snaps in Week 10. After a Week 11 bye, he came back healthy, recording three tackles in Week 12.[12] Kikaha finished his rookie season with 52 tackles, 4.0 sacks, and four forced fumbles.[12]
Kikaha tore his ACL on June 9, 2016, and was ruled out for the 2016 season.[13] He played in 12 games in 2017, recording 10 tackles and four sacks. He suffered an ankle injury in Week 16 and was placed on injured reserve on December 28, 2017.[14]
On September 1, 2018, Kikaha was waived by the Saints.[15]
Dallas Renegades
On October 15, 2019, he was selected by the Dallas Renegades of the XFL in the 2020 XFL draft.[16] He retired from football three weeks into the XFL season on February 25, 2020.[17]
Personal life
Kikaha was known as Hauʻoli Jamora before changing his name in 2013.[18][19] He is of Native Hawaiian descent.[20]