Popo Aumavae Bio
Popo Aumavae (born January 15, 1999) is an American professional football defensive tackle for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League (NFL). Standing 6 feet 3 inches tall and weighing around 143 kilograms, he plays on the interior of the defensive line, where his combination of size and power is central to his role. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks before entering the professional ranks. Aumavae went undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft but signed with the Panthers, beginning his journey in professional football.
Early Life and Background
Popo Aumavae was born on January 15, 1999, in Stockton, California, United States. He grew up in the Stockton area and attended St. Mary’s High School in his hometown, where he developed into a promising defensive lineman. His size and physical tools made him a focal point of opposing offenses during his high school years, and he used that platform to attract attention from college recruiters across the country.
Coming out of high school, Aumavae was rated as a three-star recruit by recruiting services. He held scholarship offers from a range of programs, including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, UCLA, Utah, Washington, and Washington State. The breadth of his offer sheet reflected the demand for interior defensive line talent and the consistency with which evaluators projected his future.
Path to American Football
After weighing his college options, Aumavae committed to play for the Oregon Ducks, joining a Pac-12 program known for developing defensive linemen. The decision set the stage for a multi-year development arc that included both productive seasons and stretches spent learning behind more experienced players. Oregon’s defensive scheme gave him the foundation he would later carry into the professional ranks.
His early college years were structured around a deliberate build. Aumavae redshirted during his true freshman season in 2017, preserving a year of eligibility while adjusting to the speed and physicality of the college game. The patience paid off as he gradually earned a larger role within the Ducks’ defensive rotation and began producing measurable results on the stat sheet.
Popo Aumavae Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Aumavae’s first three seasons at Oregon were a study in steady development. During his 2018 and 2019 campaigns, he totaled 20 tackles, with six tackles for loss and three and a half sacks across the two years. Those numbers reflected a player carving out a role on the interior line and contributing in both run defense and pass-rush situations.
In the 2020 season, shortened by the COVID-19 pandemic, Aumavae added 12 tackles while continuing to build his game. The smaller sample size did not slow his progress within the Ducks’ defensive structure, and the experience helped prepare him for a larger workload the following year.
Oregon Ducks Breakthrough (2021–2023)
The 2021 season marked the clearest step forward in Aumavae’s college career. He tallied 36 tackles with three tackles for loss, performances that earned him first-team All-Pac-12 honors. The recognition placed him among the top defensive linemen in the conference and signaled his arrival as a draft-eligible prospect to watch.
His momentum was interrupted when he missed the entirety of the 2022 season after suffering a season-ending foot injury. The setback tested his resolve, but Aumavae returned to the field in 2023 and recorded 18 tackles with three tackles for loss and three sacks. After the conclusion of the 2023 season, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft, closing out his Oregon tenure with a productive final chapter.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024–Present)
After not being selected in the 2024 NFL Draft, Aumavae signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, giving him a path to make an NFL roster through training camp and preseason performance. He was also selected by the Arlington Renegades in the fourth round of the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17, although he was released with an injury designation on July 25.
Aumavae continued to work within the Panthers’ system through the following offseason. On May 8, 2025, he was waived by the Panthers, a roster move common for young interior linemen as teams reshape their depth charts. His pro journey remains in its early stages, with each step providing additional experience at the highest level of American football.
Notable Events and Milestones
Aumavae’s signature college moment came in 2021, when his 36-tackle season and three tackles for loss earned him first-team All-Pac-12 recognition. He also navigated a season-ending foot injury in 2022 and returned to record three sacks in 2023, demonstrating resilience through adversity. Going undrafted in 2024 did not end his professional path, as he signed with the Carolina Panthers and earned a spot in an NFL training camp.
Popo Aumavae Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Public details about Popo Aumavae’s parents and immediate family are not widely documented in available sources. He grew up in Stockton, California, and attended St. Mary’s High School in the same city, where his development into a Division I defensive lineman began.
Personal Life
Aumavae focuses on his professional football career, having entered the NFL in 2024 after his college career at Oregon. Information about a spouse, partner, or children is not publicly confirmed in available sources.
2025 Season Performance
The 2025 offseason brought a roster change for Aumavae when the Carolina Panthers waived him on May 8, 2025. The move was part of the team’s broader reshaping of its defensive line depth chart during the spring evaluation period. Waivers at that stage of the calendar are common for young interior linemen as coaching staffs reassess fit, scheme, and developmental trajectory.
For Aumavae, the next phase of the 2025 calendar will depend on whether he clears waivers and lands with another NFL organization, secures a practice squad role, or explores opportunities in spring and summer football leagues. His combination of size, prior All-Pac-12 production, and experience within an NFL system leaves him with multiple professional avenues.
Looking ahead, Aumavae’s outlook hinges on health, scheme fit, and opportunity. A clean bill of health following his prior foot injury, combined with the power base he built at Oregon, gives him a foundation to compete for a roster spot. His career remains in development, and 2025 represents another step in establishing himself as a professional defensive tackle.