Kansas State University Athletics
2019 Football
Jersey Number 75
Matthew Pola-Mao
- Position:
- Defensive Tackle
- Height:
- 6-2
- Weight:
- 318
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Chandler, Ariz.
- High School:
- Chandler
2019: Redshirted.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Chandler under head coach Shaun Aguano... Viewed as the 21st-best defensive tackle in the Class of 2019 by ESPN, while the organization also rated him the sixth-best player overall in the state of Arizona... Registered 141 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during his career... Helped the Wolves earn a 13-1 record en route to its third-straight state championship in 2018... Chandler finished No. 17 nationally in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Expert Rankings and 15th nationally according to MaxPreps... Selected to play in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii.
PERSONAL: Matthew Pola-Mao (POE-luh MOW [rhymes with Now]) was born September 9, 2000... Son of Tracey Mao and Carrie Pola... Father, Tracey, played football at San Diego State where he was the 1992 team captain and Most Inspirational Player... Tracey went on to play for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League... Brother, Isaiah, is a junior safety at USC... Nephew of Troy Polamalu, who was a two-time All-American at USC and played with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2003 to 2014, winning two Super Bowls and making eight Pro Bowls... Cousin, Noa Pola-Gates, is a redshirt freshman defensive back at Nebraska... Majoring in social work.
HIGH SCHOOL: Played at Chandler under head coach Shaun Aguano... Viewed as the 21st-best defensive tackle in the Class of 2019 by ESPN, while the organization also rated him the sixth-best player overall in the state of Arizona... Registered 141 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during his career... Helped the Wolves earn a 13-1 record en route to its third-straight state championship in 2018... Chandler finished No. 17 nationally in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Expert Rankings and 15th nationally according to MaxPreps... Selected to play in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii.
PERSONAL: Matthew Pola-Mao (POE-luh MOW [rhymes with Now]) was born September 9, 2000... Son of Tracey Mao and Carrie Pola... Father, Tracey, played football at San Diego State where he was the 1992 team captain and Most Inspirational Player... Tracey went on to play for the Arizona Rattlers of the Arena Football League... Brother, Isaiah, is a junior safety at USC... Nephew of Troy Polamalu, who was a two-time All-American at USC and played with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2003 to 2014, winning two Super Bowls and making eight Pro Bowls... Cousin, Noa Pola-Gates, is a redshirt freshman defensive back at Nebraska... Majoring in social work.
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