Nevada LB coming on strong
Going into the season linebacker/running back Josh Mauga (6-3, 230, 4.68) from Fallon (Nev.) Churchill County flew way underneath the recruiting radar. Not only did he play for a team that is somewhat out of the way, but his school only won two games over the last two years.
The saving grace for Mauga is he plays in one of the toughest leagues in the Silver State and he was seen in action. Though his team only won three games this season, Mauga earned League Player of the Year.
Advertisement
Playing both ways, Mauga racked up 98 tackles, 63 of them solo, four sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery from his linebacker position.
As a running back, Mauga rushed for 890 yards. He was also used as a receiver out of the backfield and accounted for 250 receiving yards.
Mauga is an outstanding athlete who is rated as the State of Nevada's number one heavyweight wrestler.
Mauga also participated in track for the first time last spring and he broke the school's 20 year shot put record with a throw of 55-feet. He also threw the discus 170-feet.
"Josh has a natural instinct for the football," Churchill County coach Ray Holliday said. "He reads his keys and makes plays.
"Josh is relentless on the defensive side of the ball getting to the football," Holliday said. "He has only played four years of organized football so his best days are ahead of him."
"If Josh goes to a program where he can red shirt and spend a year in the weight room," Holliday said. "You will be looking at a guy who could weigh 250 easy and become even faster. He has a great frame."
Oregon is looking at him as a fullback or H-back type player while the majority of schools recruiting him are doing so for his linebacker skills.
Mauga was scheduled to visit Oregon on January 7th but he had to cancel the visit due the horrific storm that belted the west that weekend. He is trying to reschedule the visit for this weekend and if he can't he will visit Boise State instead.
Mauga has offers from Boise State, ASU, Fresno State, UNLV and Nevada.
Mauga has already visited ASU and Fresno State as of right now those two schools has the edge.