Saturday, August 15, 2026
Courtesy of CU Athletics
Position
Defensive Line
Height
6'3"
Weight
260 lbs
Hometown
Auckland, New Zealand
High School
Mount Roskill / New Mexico Military Institute/Utah/San Jose State
Vili Taufatofua joined Colorado in 2026 after a college journey that included New Mexico Military Institute, Utah and San Jose State.
A native of Auckland, New Zealand, Taufatofua attended Mount Roskill Grammar School before moving to the United States and beginning his college career at New Mexico Military Institute. He later spent two seasons at Utah before becoming an All-Mountain West honorable mention selection and Academic All-District honoree at San Jose State.
Football is very much a family business. Several of Taufatofua’s cousins have played collegiately, while Fui Vakapuna and Siupeli Anau both reached the NFL. Other relatives played at Utah and New Mexico.
Taufatofua is the son of Tevita Taufatofua and Loloma Fine and has three siblings. Away from football, CU’s bio notes his love of music, adding a quieter detail to a path that has carried him from Auckland to military junior college football and eventually the Big 12.
Source: CU Athletics
