| |||||||||||||||||||||
UTAH: All-conference candidate will start this season after leading Utah's rushers in 2008 ... namesake of the "Asiata Formation," in which he takes the direct snap ... big, strong and tough to tackle.
2008-Played in all 13 games with one start (Utah State) ... Utah's leading rusher ranked first on the team in carries (146), net yards (707), yards per game (54.4) and touchdowns (12) ... averaged 4.8 yards per rush ... finished seventh in the MWC in rushing (54.4) and tied for second in touchdowns (12) ... 10th in the league in scoring (6.0 ppg) ... season-best 116 yards and 19 carries against Air Force ... other big games included 85 yards vs. New Mexico, 83 vs. San Diego State and 77 against Michigan ... also had 13 receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown ... 39-yard reception vs. Michigan ... threw two passes - completing both for touchdowns - out of the "Asiata Formation" ... completed a 32-yard touchdown pass against UNLV. 2007-Injury redshirt ... broke his leg in the first game of the season at Oregon State ... prior to the injury, he rushed four times for 16 yards.
PRIOR TO UTAH: 2006 junior college All-American was also first-team all-Western States Football League ... led the WSFL and Snow College in rushing with 1,365 yards and 15 touchdowns in 2006 ... averaged 6.3 yards per carry and 136.5 yards per game ... rushed for 238 yards in a win over Scottsdale CC ... Snow won the WSFL championship in 2006 and bowl games in 2005 and 2006 ... 2003 and 2004 all-state and all-region selection for Hunter High (Utah) ... earned three letters in football and basketball ... Hunter was the 2003 state champion in both football and basketball.
PERSONAL: Son of Pete and Faulole Asiata ... two brothers and two sisters ... married to Tangi Atiga ... daughters Ioana Faulole and Shawnee-Leslie, and son Ephraim ... sociology major ... full name is Matthew Rentinai Asiata (pronounced ah-see-ah-ta) ... born July 24, 1987 in Santa Ana, Calif.
YEAR G/GS RUSH YDS AVG TD LONG 2007 1/0 4 16 4.0 0 9 2008 13/1 146 707 4.8 12 38 Totals 14/1 150 723 4.8 12
