UNLV: One of 10 Super Seniors who return for the Rebels this fall … A veteran former JC defender who was listed No. 1 at one defensive tackle spot after spring practice … One of seven players from the Peach Tree State on this year’s roster … Named to the 2020 Academic All-Mountain West Team and a member of the Dean’s Honor List in 2019 and 2021 … Earned his bachelor’s degree in film in spring 2021 and is pursuing a master's degree in sports marketing … Last name is pronounced “mah-LOCK-e-US.”
2021: Appeared in all 12 games, including starting at UNR in Game Eight … Finished with 17 total tackles and one forced fumble.
2020: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by appearing in all six games, starting the final two vs. Wyoming and Hawai'i … Finished ninth on the team with 20 total tackles and tied for third with 2.5 TFL … Recovered a fumble vs. Fresno State when he also turned in a career-high eight TT … Posted five takedowns vs. Wyoming and four in the season finale at UH.
2019: Redshirted season by playing in only four games during debut season in Las Vegas, including starting three … Finished with seven total tackles.
2018: Earned his first letter as a Rebel by playing in 10 games … Finished with seven total tackles.
JUNIOR COLLEGE: Played one season at Fort Scott Community College in Kansas where he was a teammate of former Rebel quarterback Dalton Sneed in 2017 … Registered 31 tackles, including 9.0 tackles for loss and one sack … A JUCO All-Academic selection and member of the 3.5 GPA list.
HIGH SCHOOL: A 2016 graduate of Windsor Academy … A three-year letterman under coach Jimmy Watts … As a senior, helped the Knights to a 10-4 record and a state semifinals berth … Recorded 45 tackles, including 11 tackles for loss, four pass breakups, 4.5 sacks and had two fumble recoveries during his career … The two-time all-region selection also earned all-state honors in his final prep season in 2015.
PERSONAL: Tavis Malakius was born in Macon, GA … The son of Luvindia and Dwight Malakius … Has an older brother, Tevin, and a younger brother, Tyler … Uncle Danny Lockett played linebacker at the University of Arizona and posted a long professional career in the NFL, NFL Europe and Arena Football League
MALAKIUS’ DEFENSIVE STATS
YEAR GP-GS UT AT TT TFL SCK INT PBU FF FR
2021 12-1 4 13 17 0-0 0-0 0-0 0 1 0-0
2020 6-2 7 13 20 2.5-7 0-0 0-0 2 0 1-0
2019* 4-3 3 4 7 0.5-2 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0
2018 10-0 0 7 7 0.5-1 0-0 0-0 0 0 0-0
TOTAL 32-6 14 37 51 3.5-10 0-0 0-0 2 1 1-0
*REDSHIRT SEASON
