Vavae Malepeai
USC Trojans – No. 29
PositionRunning back
Personal information
Born: (1998-01-28) January 28, 1998
Aiea, Hawaii
Height6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight220 lb (100 kg)
Career history
College
  • USC (2016–2021)
High schoolMililani HS (HI)

Vavae Malepeai (born January 28, 1998) is a former American football running back. Malepeai played for the USC Trojans.

Early years

Malepeai was born in 1998 in Aiea, Hawaii. He played football at Mililani High School where he became one of the best running backs in Hawaii high school football history.[1] He concluded his high school career with more rushing yards than any other player in state history.[2]

College career

Malepeai enrolled at the University of Southern California in 2017. He was redshirted as a true freshman after suffering a broken shoulder blade in training camp. Despite having his season shortened due to injury, he led the 2019 USC Trojans football team with 503 rushing yards in eight games.[3] His 2019 season was cut short by a knee injury.[4] Malepeai later revealed that he had injured the knee in before the season began and played hurt, hoping he could fight through it.[5]

In 2020, he again led USC in rushing yardage.[2][6]

Personal life

A native of Hawaii, his three uncles, Silila, Tasi and Pulou Malepeai, all played college football for the Oregon Ducks.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "Super Soph: Mililanis Vavae Malepeai on pace to threaten the all-time best backs". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. November 19, 2013. p. C4 – via Newspapers.com.
  2. 1 2 Billy Hull (September 1, 2021). "Talents Taing Flight". Honolulu Star-Advertiser. p. C1, C2 – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ↑ "Vavae Malepeai". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved January 15, 2020.
  4. ↑ "USC's Vavae Malepeai to undergo knee surgery". Los Angeles Times. October 13, 2019.
  5. ↑ "USC's Vavae Malepeai: 'My Fault' For Not Disclosing Injury". Sports Illustrated. November 12, 2019.
  6. ↑ "No. 13 USC RB Malepeai unlikely to play in Pac-12 title game". Santa Maria Times. December 17, 2020. p. B2 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ↑ "'Tailback U' called to USC's Malepeai, who chose not to follow family footsteps to Oregon". Los Angeles Times. September 25, 2018.


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