By Sophia Vaughan
Sports Editor
After five standout careers at Mira Costa, the eldest Tavai brothers are continuing their football careers as they take on college scholarships and enter the National Football League (NFL).
The Tavai family consists of six brothers: Jordan, J.R., Jahlani, Justus, Jonah, and Jagger, five of whom attended Costa. Jordan, J.R., Jahlani, Justus, and Jonah were all- star athletes during their time at Costa, according to football Head Coach Don Morrow, and four have gone on to continue their careers at the collegiate or professional level.
“A lot of responsibility fell on me playing at Costa and I hope I can take the same leadership I had here to the next level,” alumnus Jonah Tavai said. “Being a leader is what I will strive to be during my course over the next three years.”
J.R., the second eldest, graduated from Costa in 2011. He went on to play college football at the University of Southern California, where he showcased his versatility in numerous positions, including defensive end, defensive tackle, and outside linebacker. As a Trojan, J.R. Tavai spent two seasons as a starter and received All Pac-12 Honorable Mention in 2013. J.R. then went on to be undrafted, but signed a contract to play with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2015. After a season in the NFL, J.R. Tavai signed with the Ottawa Redblacks of the Canadian Football League (CFL) in 2018, where he continues to play football today.
Jahlani is the third eldest Tavai, who is currently celebrating his success after being drafted as the eleventh pick in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft. After four years of playing football at the University of Hawaii, Jahlani Tavai will continue his career with the Detroit Lions, becoming the first Tavai brother to be drafted into the NFL. Entering the NFL, Jahlani already has a number achievements under his belt, including the 1st Team All-Mountain West award during his second season at the University of Hawaii.
“Seeing my brother get drafted was one of the happiest moments I’ve ever [experienced] and it made me so proud seeing him go that far despite where he came from,” Jonah Tavai said. “All the hard work paid off and that is what I loved to see; his perseverance.”
The oldest brother, Jordan, played college football at the University of Kansas. The fourth Tavai, Justus, is currently playing college football at the University of Hawaii, and is a redshirt sophomore.
“Not everyone’s going to get to play college football here,” senior offensive lineman Jordan Corral said. “But the Tavai’s show how Costa football develops character and are an example of how you can take that to the next level.”
The fifth Tavai, Jonah, recently accepted an offer to continue his career at San Diego State University (SDSU). Jonah is a defensive tackle, who played a year at El Camino College before committing to SDSU. During that year, he also became an assistant coach of Mira Costa’s Girls Rugby team.
“Playing at SDSU next year is a big opportunity for me not just for football but education as well. I’m excited to start a new chapter in my life and see where it takes me,” Jonah Tavai said.
The brothers are also accomplished rugby players, and were founding members of the Mira Costa Rugby Program. Jahlani was captain for their inaugural season, and Jonah and Justus both played on the 2016 team that took seventh place at Nationals.
“It was pretty cool to play with Jonah,” Corral said. “It was a once and a lifetime experience playing with a player of that talent.”
The Tavai legacy is far from over. The youngest Tavai brother, Jagger, has yet to step foot on the Costa football field, and will be a freshman this fall. The Tavais will forever be remembered by their teammates and the students of Mira Costa High School, Morrow said.
“What I remember most about Mira Costa Football is not the wins we accumulated or the tough days we had, but the bonds I made with the coaches and other players,” Jonah Tavai said. “It was most of the stuff off field that are still held in memory because that is where we became brothers.”
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