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Rey Maualuga # prospect in 2009 NFL Draft.

Rey Maualuga NFL Draft Bio

Rey Maualuga (born January 20, 1987) is an American football linebacker for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and was recognized as an All-American. The Cincinnati Bengals chose him in the second round of the 2009 NFL Draft.

Maualuga attended the University of Southern California, and played for coach Pete Carroll's USC Trojans football team from 2005 to 2008. He was known for his emotional intensity both on the field and off. Carroll's Trojans had previously developed strong linebackers such as Lofa Tatupu and Keith Rivers, as well as Maualuga's fellow senior teammates Brian Cushing, Kaluka Maiava and Clay Matthews III, which were touted as one of the most talented linebacker corps in college football.

As a freshman in 2005, Maualuga earned Freshman All-American first-team honors from the Football Writers Association of America and Scout.com; also he won USC's John McKay Award (most competitive spirit). Off the field his career started with occasional spirited and reckless partying that led to an October 2005 incident where he got into a fight at a Halloween party and was arrested for misdemeanor battery. He agreed in an arraignment diversion program that included counseling, Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and community service resulting in the charges being dismissed. Maualuga later noted that: "You learn that you're only given a certain number of chances. If you keep going back to the same things you were doing, it shows that you don't learn from anything."

In 2006, Maualuga returned in full form and was nominated for the Butkus Award and second team All Pac-10. He made his first start in place of injured senior Oscar Lua against Nebraska.

Maualuga was considered a top choice for the 2008 NFL Draft, but he decided to stay for his senior year in college.

At the end of the 2007 regular season, Maualuga was selected to the All-Pacific-10 Conference first team for the second year in a row by league coaches. He was the defensive player-of-the-game in the 2008 Rose Bowl.

Maualuga wears jersey number 58, which was previously worn by former Trojan linebacker and NFL Pro Bowl player Lofa Tatupu, who, like Maualuga, is also of Samoan descent. Mindful of his heritage, Maualuga displays many bold, warrior-like Polynesian tattoos on his arms and legs. Some NFL scouts have compared Maualuga to former Trojan and NFL linebacker Junior Seau and former Trojan and current Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu, both of Samoan descent, for their sideline-to-sideline aggressive style of defense play, and Polamalu's shared preference for displaying long Polynesian warrior-style hair tucked under their football helmet.

In addition to being named the 2008 winner of the Chuck Bednarik Award, Maualuga was recognized as a unanimous first-team All-American, receiving first-team honors from the Associated Press, American Football Coaches Association, Football Writers Association of America, Sporting News, Walter Camp Football Foundation, CBS Sportsline.com, College Football News, ESPN and Rivals.com. Maualuga was also chosen to participate in the 2009 Senior Bowl with some of his other USC teammates.

Draft Year: 2009 NFL Football Draft Prospect Stats for Rey Maualuga

Pre-Rank	Prospect Name	Position Played	Height	Weight
	Rey Maualuga	Linebacker	6 ft 2 in	265 lbs
Round	Selected	Team	School	Hometown
2	38	Cincinnati Bengals	USC	Fort Sill, Oklahoma, United States

Learn more about 2009 NFL Draft Prospect Rey Maualuga

Sportspool.com pre ranked Rey Maualuga as a projected # prospect for the 2009 NFL Draft

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Rey Maualuga is a top NFL prospect from the 2009 NFL Draft. 2009 draft prospect Rey Maualuga player profile, bio, statistics, pre ranked mock draft and more. Enjoy our information database on Rey Maualuga a 6 ft 2 in' 265 lbs lbs Linebacker from USC.