Popo Aumavae Bio
Popo Aumavae is an American professional football defensive tackle who most recently played for the Carolina Panthers of the National Football League. He played college football for the Oregon Ducks of the Pac-12 Conference, where he developed into a reliable interior presence before pursuing a professional career. Aumavae signed with the Panthers as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft, marking the start of his professional football journey.
Early Life and Background
Popo Aumavae was born on January 15, 1999, in Stockton, California, in the United States. He grew up in the Stockton community and attended St. Mary’s High School in his hometown, where he developed into one of the area’s notable defensive line prospects.
Coming out of high school, Aumavae was rated as a three-star recruit and drew scholarship offers from a deep list of college programs, including Arizona, Colorado, Michigan, Oregon, UCLA, Utah, Washington, and Washington State. The breadth of his offer sheet reflected his size, mobility, and projection as an interior defender at the next level.
Path to American Football
After weighing his college options, Aumavae committed to play for the Oregon Ducks, joining a program with a strong tradition of developing defensive linemen. The decision allowed him to remain close to home in the Pacific Northwest while competing at the highest level of college football.
His development at Oregon followed a steady arc, beginning with a redshirt year that allowed him to mature physically before contributing on the field. Aumavae gradually worked his way into the defensive line rotation, showing the kind of progress coaches expect from a developmental interior prospect.
Popo Aumavae Career
Early Career (2017–2020)
Aumavae redshirted during his true freshman season in 2017, using the year to adjust to the speed and strength demands of college football. When he reached the field in 2018 and 2019, he totaled 20 tackles, with six tackles for loss and three and a half sacks across those first two playing seasons, signaling his potential as an inside disruptor.
During the 2020 season, Aumavae continued to build on that foundation, recording 12 tackles while maintaining a role in Oregon’s defensive line rotation. Those three seasons gave him valuable game experience heading into his upperclassman years.
Oregon Breakthrough (2021–2023)
The 2021 season represented Aumavae’s clearest college breakthrough. He tallied 36 tackles with three tackles for loss, a performance that earned him first-team All-Pac-12 honors. That recognition established him as one of the conference’s most reliable interior defenders and set the stage for an NFL decision at the end of his college career.
In 2022, Aumavae missed the entire season after suffering a season-ending foot injury, a setback that briefly stalled his momentum. He returned in 2023 and recorded 18 tackles with three tackles for loss and three sacks, demonstrating that he had regained his form and was ready for the next level. Following that senior season, he declared for the 2024 NFL Draft.
Carolina Panthers Era (2024–Present)
After going undrafted in the 2024 NFL Draft, Aumavae signed with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent, beginning his professional career. He was also selected by the Arlington Renegades in the fourth round of the 2024 UFL Draft on July 17, before being released with an injury designation on July 25.
On May 8, 2025, Aumavae was waived by the Panthers and reverted to injury reserve the following day as he continued to work through rehabilitation. On March 10, 2026, he was waived again by the Panthers, bringing his most recent chapter with the organization to a close.
Driving Style and Strengths
As an interior defensive tackle, Aumavae is built to hold the point of attack against the run while also providing push as a pass rusher. His listed measurements of 6 feet 3 inches and 315 pounds give him the frame to anchor in the middle of a defensive line, while his college production in tackles for loss and sacks highlighted his ability to disrupt the backfield.
Notable Events and Milestones
Aumavae’s most notable college milestone came in 2021, when his first-team All-Pac-12 selection validated his development as a top interior defender. His signing with the Carolina Panthers as an undrafted free agent in 2024 marked the official beginning of his professional career.
Popo Aumavae Career Wins
Verified individual game and statistical totals for Popo Aumavae are limited at the professional level, and detailed win records were not available in the provided sources. His most clearly documented on-field achievements are his college totals and his All-Pac-12 recognition in 2021.
Popo Aumavae Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Verified public details about Popo Aumavae’s immediate family were not available in the provided sources. He grew up in Stockton, California, and attended St. Mary’s High School, where he began building his identity as a defensive lineman.
Personal Life
Verified public information about Popo Aumavae’s personal life, including marital status, was not available in the provided sources. He was listed at 6 feet 3 inches and 315 pounds during his time with the Carolina Panthers.
2025 Season Performance
Aumavae entered the 2025 period with the Carolina Panthers, continuing his professional career after signing as an undrafted free agent following the 2024 NFL Draft. On May 8, 2025, he was waived by the Panthers and reverted to injury reserve the following day, a sequence that shaped his availability for the rest of the season.
His 2025 campaign was therefore defined largely by injury and roster movement rather than on-field production, with limited publicly verified statistical output. As a defensive tackle, his value to the Panthers rested on his ability to contribute against the run and offer interior pass-rush depth whenever healthy.