Freddie Keiaho
Encyclopedia
Freddy Keiaho, born Naivote Taulawakeiaho, (born) December 18, 1982 in Suva
, Fiji
) is Fiji
an-born professional American football
player who is currently a Free Agent
linebacker
in the National Football League
(NFL). He played college football
for the San Diego State University
Aztecs
, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. He joined the Jacksonville Jaguars
in the 2010 season. He is the first Fijian to play in the NFL.
, Fiji
. He grew up in Ventura, California
and played high school football for Buena High School
, where he was a star athlete. Freddy's older brother, George, was a star running back at Buena High School, rushing for 6,615 yards from 1990-1993 before accepting a scholarship to Washington and later attending Cal Lutheran. His other older brother, Roger Keiaho, is the lead singer of the rock band Rey Fresco
.
, where he played for the San Diego State Aztecs football
team. He was drafted into the National Football League
in 2006, being picked up by the Indianapolis Colts
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
. As such he became the first Fijian ever drafted into the NFL. He played with the Colts for four seasons, 2006–2009. In 2010 he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars
. After spending most of the 2010 season on injured reserve, he was released with an injury settlement in December 2010.
Suva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
) is Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
an-born professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
player who is currently a Free Agent
Free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player whose contract with a team has expired and who is thus eligible to sign with another club or franchise....
linebacker
Linebacker
A linebacker is a position in American football that was invented by football coach Fielding H. Yost of the University of Michigan. Linebackers are members of the defensive team, and line up approximately three to five yards behind the line of scrimmage, behind the defensive linemen...
in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
Aztecs
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
, and was drafted by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. He joined the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
in the 2010 season. He is the first Fijian to play in the NFL.
Early life
Keiaho was born Naivote Taulawakeiaho in SuvaSuva
Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,...
, Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. He grew up in Ventura, California
Ventura, California
Ventura is the county seat of Ventura County, California, United States, incorporated in 1866. The population was 106,433 at the 2010 census, up from 100,916 at the 2000 census. Ventura is accessible via U.S...
and played high school football for Buena High School
Buena High School
Buena High School can refer to:*Buena High School , in Sierra Vista, Arizona*Buena High School , in Ventura, California*Buena Regional High School, in Buena, New Jersey...
, where he was a star athlete. Freddy's older brother, George, was a star running back at Buena High School, rushing for 6,615 yards from 1990-1993 before accepting a scholarship to Washington and later attending Cal Lutheran. His other older brother, Roger Keiaho, is the lead singer of the rock band Rey Fresco
Rey Fresco
Rey Fresco is a band from Ventura, California that performs an eclectic mix of rock, reggae, world, soul and Latin music and features a 36 string arpa jarocha Veracruz harp as one of their lead instruments.-History:...
.
Football career
Keiaho attended San Diego State UniversitySan Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, where he played for the San Diego State Aztecs football
San Diego State Aztecs football
The San Diego State football team represents the San Diego State Aztecs in college football. The Aztecs, a Division I FBS team and a member of the Mountain West Conference, play their home games at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego, California. The field is natural grass and has a maximum capacity of...
team. He was drafted into the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
in 2006, being picked up by the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis Colts
The Indianapolis Colts are a professional American football team based in Indianapolis. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League ....
in the third round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
. As such he became the first Fijian ever drafted into the NFL. He played with the Colts for four seasons, 2006–2009. In 2010 he was signed by the Jacksonville Jaguars
Jacksonville Jaguars
The Jacksonville Jaguars are a professional American football team based in Jacksonville, Florida, U.S. They are currently members of the South Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League...
. After spending most of the 2010 season on injured reserve, he was released with an injury settlement in December 2010.