University of Nevada Las Vegas

UNLV: The team’s two-year returning starter at center is an honors candidate as a junior … A Rimington Trophy and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year candidate … Named 2022 Preseason Second Team All-Mountain West by Athlon …Name is pronounced “LEEF Faw-TAH-new.”

2021: Started all 12 games at center and anchored a line that produced 1,261-yard rusher Charles Williams, who also had 15 rushing touchdowns … Earned the UNLV Football Offensive Captain Award, which is given to the team's overall captains selected at the end of the season … A member of the official watch list for the Polynesian College Football Player of the Year Award.

2020: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by playing in five games, starting four … Made his first collegiate start during the season opener at San Diego State. 

2019: Redshirted season by only appearing in the final two games of the season. 

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2019 graduate of University Laboratory School … A three-year letterwinner under coach Kip Bothelo … Also played at defensive tackle, was a long snapper and had served a stint as the team’s punter … Selected to play in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl … The two-sport athlete was also a four-year letterwinner on the Junior Bows’ basketball team as a center. 

PERSONAL: Leif Ericson Talalelei Fautanu Jr. was born in Honolulu, HI … The son of Leif and Roselyn Fautanu … Has five siblings: older brother Trinity, younger sisters Faith and Hope and younger brothers Ripley and Maafatu … Comes from an athletic family … Uncle Ed Ripley played nose guard at the University of Hawai’i … Uncle Joe Onosai was a center for the Dallas Cowboys … Father, Leif, played on the U.S. Army men’s volleyball team … Mother, Roselyn, was a member of the volleyball team at Hawaii … Majoring in business.