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NEW MEXICO:Two-year letterman at offensive guard who quietly enjoyed an outstanding Division I career (24 games - all starts) as one of the Lobos' most productive and skilled players in the trenches...smart player who displayed great attention to detail in the classroom (two-time Academic All-MWC) and meeting room, and showed an impressive understanding of the game...developed into a real force in the trenches in his first season as he became more comfortable with the speed of the game and gained confidence each week...recorded a program record 24 knockdown blocks in his fifth game as a Lobo in the 2008 victory at New Mexico State...didn't have ideal size for a lineman, but coaches say he more than made up for it with his outstanding work ethic, passion for the game, and film work...enrolled at UNM in January of `08...did an excellent job of improving his physical play throughout his first spring season to win the starting job on the right side.2009 (SENIOR): Was one of the Lobos' most productive linemen and was rewarded by his teammates with the Outstanding Offensive Lineman award at the postseason banquet...led the team with 102 knockdown blocks and 24 extra effort plays, playing every snap in 12 starts at right guard...8 games with perfect technique on 75% or more of his snaps, including 3 over 80%...double-digit KD blocks in 3 games...team captain in week 4...Academic All-MWC honoree as well. `09 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. No. 22 BYU...Matched his season-high with 16 knockdowns and had 4 extra effort plays against one of the biggest defensive fronts in the nation...98% assignment grade and 75% technique grade in 84 snaps...no penalties. at San Diego State...Team-high 14 KD blocks along with 2 extra effort plays to help the Lobos put up their second-highest yardage total of the season against an aggressive national top-50 defense...just 1 missed assignment in 91 snaps and did not have any penalties or sacks allowed. at Texas Tech...Season-high 16 knockdowns - most by a Lobo in `09 - led the team with 3 extra effort plays and missed just 2 assignments in a season-high 98 snaps against an active Big 12 front line...no sacks allowed, helping give Donovan Porterie time to throw for 316 yards on 56 pass attempts...helped clear the way for freshman A.J. Butler's 102 yards rushing. vs. New Mexico State...Season-high 85% technique grade and 9 KD blocks in 54 snaps...just 1 missed assignment. vs. Air Force...4 KD blocks, 3 extra effort plays, and no missed assignments or penalties in all 52 snaps to help the Lobos churn out a season high 188 rushing yards. vs. Tulsa...Led the team with 7 knockdowns and 5 extra effort plays in all 57 snaps...perfect technique on 81% of his plays and didn't allow a sack. 2008 (JUNIOR): Performed with greater confidence and power each week, helping to power the nation's 16th-ranked rushing offense...started all 12 games at right guard in his Division I debut...ranked 3rd on the team with 119 knockdown blocks (9.9 avg.)...had double-digit knockdowns in 3 games...5 sacks allowed (289 pass attempts) and just 5 penalties (809 plays) on the year...Academic All-MWC honoree (3.33 GPA). Season Highs: 24 KD blocks (at NMSU), 80% performance grade (at NMSU), 100% assignment grade (at Air Force), 62% technique grade (vs. Wyoming), 86% effort grade (at UNLV). `08 HIGHLIGHTS: vs. San Diego State...Strong performance, recording 9 KD blocks and a 79% performance grade in just 3 quarters of work...flawless technique on 61% of his snaps...no penalties and helped the Lobo offense amass 320 rushing yards and 466 total yards with 0 sacks allowed in his 3 quarters of action. vs. Wyoming...Big part of another dominant performance in the trenches...tallied 15 KD blocks and posted a 77% performance grade...perfect technique on a season-high 62% of his 73 snaps and had a 96% assignment grade...no sacks allowed or penalties...helped clear the way for the Lobos' 317 rushing yards. at New Mexico State...Helped power a dominant physical performance by The Hitmen, who paved the way for the Lobos' 297 rushing yards (63 attempts)...he and left tackle Sylvester Hatten led the team with a program record 24 KD blocks...also posted a career-best 80% performance grade...also had career-highs with a 98% assignment grade, 59% technique grade and an 83% effort mark in 86 snaps. vs. Arizona...11 KD blocks to pave the way for the Lobos' 221 rushing yards...72% performance grade and no penalties. vs. Texas A&M...76% performance grade, including an 80% effort mark, and 9 KDs in 80 snaps against a massive front line...no penalties and helped the Lobos pile up 216 yards rushing. vs. TCU...9 knockdown blocks and a 64% performance grade in his Division I debut. FOOTHILL COLLEGE: Spent the past two seasons at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, Calif., where he was a first team all-league and all-California offensive guard for head coach Doug Boyett...the Owls finished 10-1 and 5th in the junior college national rankings in 2006 and 10-1 and 4th nationally in '07. HIGH SCHOOL: A 2006 graduate of Independence High in San Jose, Calif...three-time all league for the 76ers, including the Most Outstanding Lineman award as a senior...also on the Honor Roll. PERSONAL: Born Sept. 28, 1988, in San Jose...age is 20...full name is Joshua Alexander Taufalele...son of Dave and Salote Taufalele...University Studies major...interested in coaching and being a counselor. 
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