- Is a second cousin of the late Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl LB who played 20 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, and died tragically in May 2012.
- Committed to BYU as a tight end, playing his first two seasons on offense before converting to defense where he contributed as both a linebacker and defensive end.
Pro Highlights:
- A raw, physical player who was one of 17 non-drafted free agents to sign with the Packers on the eve of 2011 training camp.
- Joined S M.D. Jennings and LB Jamari Lattimore as the only three rookie free agents to make the opening-day roster.
- Made a strong push to make the team with his performances in the team’s final two preseason games, combining for seven tackles, 2½ sacks, two forced fumbles and an INT-TD in those two contests.
- Appeared in seven regular-season games as a rookie, seeing time on special teams and as part of the rotation at OLB. Totaled seven tackles and a sack on defense and three tackles on special teams.
2011 SEASON: One of three non-drafted rookie free agents to make the club out of training camp in 2011, doing so on the strength of a strong preseason that saw him make significant strides in the final two exhibition games…Finished the preseason with 13 tackles (nine solo), 2½ sacks, two forced fumbles and an INT that he returned 33 yards for a TD…Suffered a back injury during the week of preparation leading up to the regular-season opener vs. New Orleans (Sept. 8) and was listed as an inactive for the first three games of the season…Ultimately made his NFL debut in Week 4 and for the season, appeared in seven games both on special teams and in the rotation at outside linebacker, totaling seven tackles (five solo) and a sack on defense, and adding three tackles on special teams…Vs. Denver (Oct. 2): Made his NFL debut, appearing predominantly on special teams but also seeing one defensive snap late in the game at OLB, and did not record any statistics…At Minnesota (Oct. 23): Once again saw time on special teams, recording the first coverage tackle of his career when he fought off a block to bring down WR Percy Harvin on a kickoff return in the first quarter…Vs. Chicago (Dec. 25): Saw his most extended action on defense to that point in the season, appearing on 26 plays and posting a season-high three tackles (one solo), a QB hit and two pressures…Vs. Detroit (Jan. 1): Followed up his increased exposure the previous week by seeing action on a season-high 46 defensive plays, recording two tackles (both solo) and his first career sack in the third quarter. On the play, started upfield against RT Gosder Cherilus, but worked his way back to the inside, dropping QB Matthew Stafford for an 11-yard loss.
COLLEGE: Recruited to BYU as a tight end and spent his first three years on campus in that capacity before converting to the defensive side of the ball prior to the start of the 2008 season…A four-year letterman, he lettered twice on offense before making the conversion to defense, first practicing at linebacker and ultimately settling in at defensive end…Suffered two season-ending injuries while in college and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA…Appeared in 24 games as a TE, making 12 catches for 124 yards (10.3 avg.)…Finished his career by playing 24 games on defense between 2008-10, tallying 55 tackles (including 15½ for loss), six sacks and an INT… Earned a degree in geography…Senior season (2010): Used his NCAA-granted sixth year of eligibility and started all 13 games at defensive end, setting career highs in every major defensive category…Totaled 45 tackles (18 solo), including a team-high 11½ for loss, and five sacks, earning various All-Mountain West Conference honors following the season…Made a career-high 11 stops in a loss at Air Force (Sept. 11)…Picked off QB Colin Kaepernick, a second-round pick of the 49ers in 2011, vs. Nevada (Sept. 25) to record his first career INT…Junior season (2009): Saw his first extended action on the defensive side of the ball, appearing in 10 games as both a defensive end and on special teams…Registered 10 tackles from scrimmage during the season, including four for loss and his first career sack vs. Colorado State (Sept. 26)…Redshirt season (2008): Asked to be moved to linebacker to start the 2008 season and started the first game, but fell victim to a foot injury and missed the rest of the year…Sophomore season (2007): Played in all 13 games, posting 12 catches for 124 yards (10.3 avg.) as a tight end…Contributed a season-high two catches for 33 yards (16.5 avg.) in the team’s season-opening victory vs. Arizona (Sept. 1)…Redshirt season (2006): Missed the 2006 season with a knee injury and was redshirted…Freshman season (2005): Appeared in 11 games as a true freshman, starting one at tight end but seeing extensive action on special teams.
PERSONAL: Given name Vitale Ta’aga Magauli So’oto… Last name is pronounced so-OH-toe…Born in Oceanside, Calif. …Married, wife’s name is Ashley...The couple has a 1-year old daughter, Asofiafia, and is expecting a second daughter in September 2012…Is a second cousin of the late Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl LB who played 20 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots…High school: A three-year letterman as both a LB and TE at Carlsbad (Calif.) High School, the same school that produced former Packers LB Brandon Chillar and WR Brett Swain…Was named first-team All-San Diego by the San Diego Union-Tribune following his senior season in 2004 when he recorded 80 tackles and three forced fumbles from the LB position…Also had 18 catches for 400 yards (22.2 avg.) and two touchdowns as a TE that season…Community involvement: Spoke to the team and signed autographs at the Kaukauna Raiders Youth Football Club banquet in November 2011…Also attended the annual Families of Children with Cancer holiday party in December 2011…Hobbies/interests: Enjoys spending time with his family, watching documentaries and listening to country music in his free time…Lists his favorite musical act as Zac Brown Band and his favorite vacation spot as Hawaii…Traveled to Italy following the 2011 season and says he is learning how to play the guitar…Residence: Carlsbad, Calif.
- Is a second cousin of the late Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl LB who played 20 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots, and died tragically in May 2012.
- Committed to BYU as a tight end, playing his first two seasons on offense before converting to defense where he contributed as both a linebacker and defensive end.
Pro Highlights:
- A raw, physical player who was one of 17 non-drafted free agents to sign with the Packers on the eve of 2011 training camp.
- Joined S M.D. Jennings and LB Jamari Lattimore as the only three rookie free agents to make the opening-day roster.
- Made a strong push to make the team with his performances in the team’s final two preseason games, combining for seven tackles, 2½ sacks, two forced fumbles and an INT-TD in those two contests.
- Appeared in seven regular-season games as a rookie, seeing time on special teams and as part of the rotation at OLB. Totaled seven tackles and a sack on defense and three tackles on special teams.
2011 SEASON: One of three non-drafted rookie free agents to make the club out of training camp in 2011, doing so on the strength of a strong preseason that saw him make significant strides in the final two exhibition games…Finished the preseason with 13 tackles (nine solo), 2½ sacks, two forced fumbles and an INT that he returned 33 yards for a TD…Suffered a back injury during the week of preparation leading up to the regular-season opener vs. New Orleans (Sept. 8) and was listed as an inactive for the first three games of the season…Ultimately made his NFL debut in Week 4 and for the season, appeared in seven games both on special teams and in the rotation at outside linebacker, totaling seven tackles (five solo) and a sack on defense, and adding three tackles on special teams…Vs. Denver (Oct. 2): Made his NFL debut, appearing predominantly on special teams but also seeing one defensive snap late in the game at OLB, and did not record any statistics…At Minnesota (Oct. 23): Once again saw time on special teams, recording the first coverage tackle of his career when he fought off a block to bring down WR Percy Harvin on a kickoff return in the first quarter…Vs. Chicago (Dec. 25): Saw his most extended action on defense to that point in the season, appearing on 26 plays and posting a season-high three tackles (one solo), a QB hit and two pressures…Vs. Detroit (Jan. 1): Followed up his increased exposure the previous week by seeing action on a season-high 46 defensive plays, recording two tackles (both solo) and his first career sack in the third quarter. On the play, started upfield against RT Gosder Cherilus, but worked his way back to the inside, dropping QB Matthew Stafford for an 11-yard loss.
COLLEGE: Recruited to BYU as a tight end and spent his first three years on campus in that capacity before converting to the defensive side of the ball prior to the start of the 2008 season…A four-year letterman, he lettered twice on offense before making the conversion to defense, first practicing at linebacker and ultimately settling in at defensive end…Suffered two season-ending injuries while in college and was granted a sixth year of eligibility by the NCAA…Appeared in 24 games as a TE, making 12 catches for 124 yards (10.3 avg.)…Finished his career by playing 24 games on defense between 2008-10, tallying 55 tackles (including 15½ for loss), six sacks and an INT… Earned a degree in geography…Senior season (2010): Used his NCAA-granted sixth year of eligibility and started all 13 games at defensive end, setting career highs in every major defensive category…Totaled 45 tackles (18 solo), including a team-high 11½ for loss, and five sacks, earning various All-Mountain West Conference honors following the season…Made a career-high 11 stops in a loss at Air Force (Sept. 11)…Picked off QB Colin Kaepernick, a second-round pick of the 49ers in 2011, vs. Nevada (Sept. 25) to record his first career INT…Junior season (2009): Saw his first extended action on the defensive side of the ball, appearing in 10 games as both a defensive end and on special teams…Registered 10 tackles from scrimmage during the season, including four for loss and his first career sack vs. Colorado State (Sept. 26)…Redshirt season (2008): Asked to be moved to linebacker to start the 2008 season and started the first game, but fell victim to a foot injury and missed the rest of the year…Sophomore season (2007): Played in all 13 games, posting 12 catches for 124 yards (10.3 avg.) as a tight end…Contributed a season-high two catches for 33 yards (16.5 avg.) in the team’s season-opening victory vs. Arizona (Sept. 1)…Redshirt season (2006): Missed the 2006 season with a knee injury and was redshirted…Freshman season (2005): Appeared in 11 games as a true freshman, starting one at tight end but seeing extensive action on special teams.
PERSONAL: Given name Vitale Ta’aga Magauli So’oto… Last name is pronounced so-OH-toe…Born in Oceanside, Calif. …Married, wife’s name is Ashley...The couple has a 1-year old daughter, Asofiafia, and is expecting a second daughter in September 2012…Is a second cousin of the late Junior Seau, a 12-time Pro Bowl LB who played 20 seasons with the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins and New England Patriots…High school: A three-year letterman as both a LB and TE at Carlsbad (Calif.) High School, the same school that produced former Packers LB Brandon Chillar and WR Brett Swain…Was named first-team All-San Diego by the San Diego Union-Tribune following his senior season in 2004 when he recorded 80 tackles and three forced fumbles from the LB position…Also had 18 catches for 400 yards (22.2 avg.) and two touchdowns as a TE that season…Community involvement: Spoke to the team and signed autographs at the Kaukauna Raiders Youth Football Club banquet in November 2011…Also attended the annual Families of Children with Cancer holiday party in December 2011…Hobbies/interests: Enjoys spending time with his family, watching documentaries and listening to country music in his free time…Lists his favorite musical act as Zac Brown Band and his favorite vacation spot as Hawaii…Traveled to Italy following the 2011 season and says he is learning how to play the guitar…Residence: Carlsbad, Calif.
