Siale Taupaki enters eighth season of college football at Penn State

Penn State defensive tackle Siale Taupaki is entering his eighth season of college football, a longevity that drew attention during Buffalo head coach Pete Lembo’s recent press conference. Lembo joked about Taupaki’s long tenure, remarking that the player had been around since the First Gulf War.

Taupaki’s extended career is the result of several factors, including redshirt seasons, a COVID-19 eligibility waiver, and medical waivers due to injuries. He previously played seven seasons at UCLA before transferring to Penn State.

Taupaki has utilized his time in the Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) era to support his family. He shared that he grew up in a crowded household in East Oakland, California, and has used his opportunities to assist his parents with financial struggles. Upcoming changes to college athletics eligibility rules, which will limit players to five seasons of eligibility over five years starting next fall, would likely prevent players with similar career timelines from competing in the future.