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USC linebacker Kana'i Mauga makes decision on NFL future

Wade-Peeryby:Wade Peery•12/22/21
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(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

USC senior linebacker Kana’i Mauga has officially declared for the 2022 NFL Draft, according to a post he released on his Twitter page on Wednesday afternoon.

He wrote: “The past four years at USC has been the best. Thank you to all the coaches and staff that I got the opportunity to work with. Thank you to all the players that I have shared many great memories with. Thank you to my family for their endless support. With that being said, this year I will be declaring for the 2022 NFL Draft. Kana’i Mauga—USC“.

He was the leading tackler for the 2021 season for the Trojans, racking up 91 tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, one sack, one forced fumble, and one interception. The gifted linebacker was USC’s leading tackler this season and by a wide margin. He won’t be easy to replace. Mauga is a native of Hawaii and hails from Waianae, Hawaii.

The most tackles he tallied in a single game this season came against the UCLA Bruins, when he notched 14 tackles. He ends his career as a USC Trojan with 206 total tackles, six passes defended, five sacks, one forced fumble, and three interceptions.

As a high school prospect, Mauga was rated as four-stars, according to the On3 Consensus in the 2018 cycle. He chose USC over offers from Washington, Vanderbilt, California, and Washington State.

New USC head coach Lincoln Riley recently spoke about the transfer portal and how much roster turnover the Trojans will face this off-season. Mauga’s declaration for the 2022 NFL Draft means that’ll just be another position he’ll be looking for more players to fill spots.

The only linebacker the Trojans signed during the Early Signing Period was Garrison Madden, a three-star linebacker from Hampton, Georgia. Madden chose the Trojans over Syracuse, South Florida, Marshall, and others.