COLLEGE CAREER – The New Orleans Saints addressed an immediate need while also looking to the future when they drafted Taliese Fuaga in the first round (14th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft out of Oregon State. Possessing the strength, footwork and ability to play every offensive line position but center, Fuaga will start working at tackle for New Orleans. Fuaga comes to the Saints after four seasons in Corvallis, where he made 25 starts at right tackle in 39 games, including opening all 12 contests in 2023, when he received first-team All-American honors.
CAREER TRANSACTIONS – Signed to a four-year contract, 5/9/24; Selected in the first round (14th overall) of the 2024 NFL Draft.
2023 – First-team All-American selection started all 12 games and played 700 snaps at right tackle, as part of an offensive line that helped OSU average 4.9 yards per carry and 167.1 rushing yards per game…Earned an 88.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, and a 90.9 mark in run blocking…PFF graded him at 80.0 in pass blocking…Helped OSU rush for 277 yards on 40 carries (6.9 avg.) with six touchdowns, as the OSU offensive line surrendered only one sack in 62-17 win vs. Stanford, Nov. 11…Represented the National team at the Reese's Senior Bowl. 2022 – PFF honorable mention All-American and first-team All-Pac-12 (second-team by Associated Press and conference coaches) started all 13 games at right tackle, as part of an offensive line that helped pave the way for the Beavers to average 396 yards per game overall and 196.5 yards per game on the ground, which was among the league's leaders, graded out at 80.8 by Pro Football Focus, including a 79.6 mark in run blocking…Blocked for an offense that gained 268 yards on 43 carries (6.2 avg.) with five touchdowns and surrendered only one sack to power a 38-34 come-from-behind win vs. Oregon, Nov. 26. 2021 – Played in ten games along the line for OSU…Pac-12 Academic Honor Roll. 2020 – Saw action in four games along the line for OSU in COVID-19 pandemic shortened season.
PERSONAL – Played at Mount Tahoma (Tacoma, Wash.) HS…Rated three stars by 247Sports and Rivals…Played in the 2020 Polynesian Bowl…Played on the defensive line at Mount Tahoma, where he tallied 40 tackles, 10.5 stops for loss and five sacks, in addition to seeing offensive line action…First-team All-League on the offensive line and received second-team recognition on the defensive line as a senior and an All-Area nomination…Second-team All-League selection as a junior…Majored in sociology…Full name is pronounced tah-lee-ESS-ay Foo-AH-gah…Born April 5, 2003 in Renton, Wash.
