The Michigan Panthers are bringing back running back Toa Taua who was with the team for part of the 2023 USFL season per James Larsen. The move comes following the injury sustained by Wes Hills which is believed to be a season-ending injury. Hills had rushed 72 times for 277 yards and 5 touchdowns on the season with an additional 59 receiving yards.
RB Toa Taua – Nevada (5’9, 218 lbs, 25)
Toa Taua was signed by the Michigan Panthers partway into the 2023 USFL season. He dressed in 1 game although he did not receive a rushing attempt.
Taua played his collegiate ball with Nevada where he played in 59 games with 44 starts. He would rush 855 times for 3,997 yards (4.7 average) and 33 touchdowns with the program. He also caught 163 passes for 293 yards and 4 touchdowns. He is 6th all-time in rushing in program history.
In his final season in 2022, he rushed 217 times for 911 yards and 11 touchdowns over 12 games and added 293 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. Taua had over 600 rushing yards in all 5 of his seasons.
Taua was an All-Mountain West Honorable Mention in 2019 and 2022. He was named All-Mountain West Second Team in 2020. In 2018 he was named the Mountain West Freshman of the Year.
Closing
With the injury to Wes Hills, Matt Colburn will be the expected starter for the Panthers moving forward.
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