Senior LB Maeva brings Samoan culture, experience to Panthers
Tyson Maeva was in his hometown of San Diego enjoying a family barbecue near the beach when he spotted the famed “long and flowing” black hair of superstar NFL safety Troy Polamalu.
“He had his surfboard when I saw him,” said Maeva, who was eight years old at the time. “We didn’t know him at all, but our family invited him to our BBQ.
“In the Samoan culture, we’re family even if we don’t know you. He and his friends hung out with us for a couple hours. It was cool to see. Even though he was high profile, he still kept in touch with his roots.”
Maeva, a fifth-year senior linebacker, is doing his part to spread Samoan culture at FIU, his new school. He spent the first three years of his collegiate career at Boise State before transferring to FIU in time for the 2020 season.
At FIU, Maeva is one of two Samoans, joining
Sione Finau, a sophomore from Texas who is projected to start at guard.
“Me and Sione are really cool,” Maeva said. “But he plays offense, and I play defense. When we step on the practice field, that friendship dies.”
That’s the type of intensity the Panthers are looking for from Maeva, who turns 23 next month and is one of the oldest and most experienced players on FIU’s roster.
A 6-0, 230-pounder, Maeva played 12 games, all in reserve, as a Boise State freshman in 2016, experiencing the famed blue turf at Albertsons Stadium for the first time.
“The first time I saw that blue field, I thought it was the craziest thing ever,” Maeva said. “But then it became a pride thing — ‘Protect the
Blue.’”
Maeva started 13 games as a sophomore, finishing third on the team with 84 tackles and making honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference. He started 12 games as a junior, setting career highs in tackles for losses (eight) and sacks (four).
Maeva, who sat out last season as a transfer student, was a middle linebacker at Boise State. But he is also getting work at outside linebacker this fall.
“The coaches have us rotating,” said Maeva, who is set to graduate this fall with a degree in communications. “With the coronavirus, we don’t know how many guys will drop [out], and everyone has to get a piece of different positions.”
Maeva, who helped Boise State to a 31-9 record and three bowl games in his time playing in the state of Idaho, said he is still making the adjustment to the heat and humidity of Miami.
Other than that, he should fit in well with a linebacker crew that includes senior Jamal Gates, who was second on the team in tackles last year and also came up with some big plays — a careerhigh 12 stops versus Louisiana Tech, an interception against Miami and a forced fumble at Tulane.
Beyond Maeva and Gates, the most experienced FIU linebackers are senior Daniel Jackson (39 games played but just three starts); junior Rocky Jacques-Louis (25 games, two starts); and Tevin Jones (17 games, one start).
FIU’s defense will also include the talented
Dames twins (Richard and Rishard) and Dorian Hall in the secondary and pass rushers such as Chris Whittaker, Alexy JeanBaptiste, Noah Curtis and Kevin Oliver.
“We have some weapons on defense,” Maeva said. “People need to do their research.”