With the loss of one of the more athletic line backers in Wolf Pack history, publications are wondering who is going to fill the void for a Pack defense that struggled last season.
Enter senior Josh Mauga
Before injuries slowed him down in the 2007 season, Josh was amongst the nation's leaders in tackles. Despite playing in only seven of the Pack's twelve regular season games he finished tied for 2nd on the team in tackles with 82. Game-by-game to start the season Josh had the following numbers: 13 vs. Nebraska, 11 vs. Northwestern, 14 vs. Nichols, 9 vs. Funlv, 11 vs. Fresno State, and 12 vs. BSU. He also registered 11 tackles in the New Mexico bowl.
Josh is a home grown product hailing from Churchill County High in Fallon, Nevada. He was named High Desert Defensive POY, All Region, and All State in 2004. He was also the number one ranked heavyweight wrestler in Nevada.
In college, Josh was named as one of the team's captains as a junior. It isn't often for the Pack that a junior is named captain. A quiet leader who walks with a big stick, Mauga played outside backer as a true freshman for the team in 2005. He earned honorable mention All American for his performance by the Sporting News that year. He then moved to the inside his sophomore season and recorded 10 tackles against BSU and had an interception against the webels and also in the MPC bowl vs. Miami.
Josh along with Dominic Green is considered by many to be a probable NFL draft choice following this season. In the mean time, he'll be recording another double digit tackles count average per game for the Wolf Pack.
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