Taumua: UNLV assistant told him of dismissal

Malo Taumua, who was dismissed from UNLV’s football team after spring practices, said he received the news from an assistant rather than from coach Bobby Hauck.

Taumua also said fellow defensive tackle Isaako Aaitui, who could become one of the Rebels’ top NFL prospects next year, tore an anterior cruciate ligament but plans to play next season with a knee brace.

Both players tore ACLs in the spring, but Taumua, unlike Aaitui, had surgery and hoped to return in October and finish his senior season.

“I was looking forward to coming back this year,” Taumua said Friday. “I thought I could’ve done it this year because I was determined to get my knee better and be on the team again.”

He said he still hasn’t spoken to Hauck about why his college career ended and that assistant recruiting coordinator Jimmy Morimoto broke the news to him.

“I did not see this coming at all,” Taumua said.

Hauck was out of town Friday and couldn’t be reached for comment. He previously indicated that Taumua’s UNLV career was over but didn’t state it outright.

Taumua was a three-year starter but fell to third team on the depth chart in the spring.

“I honestly don’t know why I was moving down because I didn’t do bad or anything,” Taumua said. “If I see that I’m dropping, I just play harder.”

Taumua plans to graduate this summer and continue his rehabilitation. He hopes to be able to participate in UNLV’s pro day next year and position himself for the 2011 NFL Draft.

“I don’t want this injury to tell me my career is over,” Taumua said. “Things happen for a reason, so I’ll get through it. I’m tough enough to keep my head up and look to other things in the future.”

Aaitui could become an attractive draft candidate next year with a big senior season. He looked sharp in the spring in nailing down the No. 1 spot at tackle.

If circumstances change and Aaitui isn’t able to play, the Rebels would suffer a considerable drop-off. The current backup is redshirt freshman Isaiah Shivers, who showed promise in the spring but has no playing experience.

Hauck previously said through a UNLV spokesman that he wouldn’t comment on questions regarding “a current student-athlete’s injury status.”

Aaitui started 19 games the past two seasons, making a combined 63 tackles, including 9½ for loss and 2½ sacks. How effective he will be wearing a knee brace is a big question entering next season.

“He wants to play football,” Taumua said.

An attempt to reach Aaitui was unsuccessful.

Contact reporter Mark Anderson at
manderson@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2914.