
Tainoa Lave brings versatility, ball-hawking instincts, and special-teams juice to SDSU
In the 2026 season, Tainoa Lave enters San Diego State as a freshman safety with a strong two-way profile: he was a four-year starter at James Campbell, earned first-team all-state recognition, and showed real playmaking pop with interceptions, pick-sixes, and a punt-return touchdown in high school. He also arrived with a three-star recruiting profile and offers from multiple Mountain West and West Coast programs, which tells you coaches saw a tough, versatile defender who can hit, cover, and contribute on special teams.





