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Jersey Number 22
Talanoa Ili
- Position:
- Linebacker
- Height:
- 6-3
- Weight:
- 225
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Chino, Calif.
- High School:
- Kahuka HS
2026: Ili, who enrolled at USC in the spring of 2026 after graduating a semester early from high school, looks to compete for playing time at linebacker as a true freshman in 2026.
HIGH SCHOOL: Ili, a four-star recruit, was ranked No. 53 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 62 by 247Sports and No. 197 by Rivals. He was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Hawaii by 247Sports and ESPN and No. 2 by Rivals. He was touted as the No. 5 linebacker in the country by 247Sports, No. 6 by ESPN and No. 11 by Rivals. He was nationally ranked 53rd on the ESPN 300 List, 62nd on the Top 247 List and 197th on the Rivals 300 List. He was a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star.
He played his senior season at Kahuku High School in Hawaii. He recorded snaps all over the field as a senior, splitting time between MIKE, WILL and SAM while also being featured as a large nickel and a hand-in-the-dirt edge. He earned placement on the 2025 MaxPreps All-America Second Team. Prior to the season, he was named a 2025 MaxPreps Preseason First Team All-American and a 2025 Sporting News Preseason All-American. He was a finalist for the 2025 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year.
As a junior at Orange Lutheran in Calif. in 2024, he tallied 78 tackles, including 8.0 for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 1 PBU. He was named a 2024 MaxPreps Junior Second Team All American. He was also selected to the All-Trinity League Second Team. Prior to the season, he was selected to the 2024 Preseason MaxPreps Junior All-American Second Team. He was also named a 2024 OCVarsity Hot 150. He was a 2024 Under Armour Next Camp Series: Maui and a 2024 Under Armour Next Camp Series: Los Angeles invitee.
As a sophomore in 2023, he recorded 51 tackles, including 15.0 for loss (with 4.0 sacks) and 2 forced fumbles. He was selected to the 2023 All-CIF Southern Section Team. Prior to the season, he was named a 2023 MaxPreps Preseason Sophomore Second Team All-American. He was a 2023 Under Armour Next Camp Series: Los Angeles and a 2023 Rivals Camp Series Los Angeles invitee.
As a freshman in 2022, he notched 70 tackles, including 15.0 for loss (with 4.0 sacks) and 3 forced fumbles. He was named to the 2022 All- Orange County Team, the 2022 All-CIF Southern Section Team and the 2022 All-Trinity League First Team.
Ili also competed in track and field at Orange Lutheran. He posted a 12.34 in the 100-meter dash, 25.77 in the 200-meter dash and a 5-5 effort in the high jump. He also played youth rugby.
PERSONAL: His father, Glen, played football a Mt. SAC, winning a state and national championship in 1997. His team was inducted into the Mt. SAC Hall of Fame in 2017. He also played football at New Mexico Highlands, winning in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship in 1999. Ili was named to the All-RMAC Team. His mother, Teulia, played basketball at Mt. SAC. His uncles, Talalemotu, (Azusa Pacific) and Willhans (Utah State/Idaho State/New Mexico Highlands) both played college football.
HIGH SCHOOL: Ili, a four-star recruit, was ranked No. 53 player in the nation by ESPN, No. 62 by 247Sports and No. 197 by Rivals. He was rated as the No. 1 player in the state of Hawaii by 247Sports and ESPN and No. 2 by Rivals. He was touted as the No. 5 linebacker in the country by 247Sports, No. 6 by ESPN and No. 11 by Rivals. He was nationally ranked 53rd on the ESPN 300 List, 62nd on the Top 247 List and 197th on the Rivals 300 List. He was a 2026 Polynesian Bowl All-Star.
He played his senior season at Kahuku High School in Hawaii. He recorded snaps all over the field as a senior, splitting time between MIKE, WILL and SAM while also being featured as a large nickel and a hand-in-the-dirt edge. He earned placement on the 2025 MaxPreps All-America Second Team. Prior to the season, he was named a 2025 MaxPreps Preseason First Team All-American and a 2025 Sporting News Preseason All-American. He was a finalist for the 2025 Polynesian High School Football Player of the Year.
As a junior at Orange Lutheran in Calif. in 2024, he tallied 78 tackles, including 8.0 for loss, 2 forced fumbles and 1 PBU. He was named a 2024 MaxPreps Junior Second Team All American. He was also selected to the All-Trinity League Second Team. Prior to the season, he was selected to the 2024 Preseason MaxPreps Junior All-American Second Team. He was also named a 2024 OCVarsity Hot 150. He was a 2024 Under Armour Next Camp Series: Maui and a 2024 Under Armour Next Camp Series: Los Angeles invitee.
As a sophomore in 2023, he recorded 51 tackles, including 15.0 for loss (with 4.0 sacks) and 2 forced fumbles. He was selected to the 2023 All-CIF Southern Section Team. Prior to the season, he was named a 2023 MaxPreps Preseason Sophomore Second Team All-American. He was a 2023 Under Armour Next Camp Series: Los Angeles and a 2023 Rivals Camp Series Los Angeles invitee.
As a freshman in 2022, he notched 70 tackles, including 15.0 for loss (with 4.0 sacks) and 3 forced fumbles. He was named to the 2022 All- Orange County Team, the 2022 All-CIF Southern Section Team and the 2022 All-Trinity League First Team.
Ili also competed in track and field at Orange Lutheran. He posted a 12.34 in the 100-meter dash, 25.77 in the 200-meter dash and a 5-5 effort in the high jump. He also played youth rugby.
PERSONAL: His father, Glen, played football a Mt. SAC, winning a state and national championship in 1997. His team was inducted into the Mt. SAC Hall of Fame in 2017. He also played football at New Mexico Highlands, winning in the Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference Championship in 1999. Ili was named to the All-RMAC Team. His mother, Teulia, played basketball at Mt. SAC. His uncles, Talalemotu, (Azusa Pacific) and Willhans (Utah State/Idaho State/New Mexico Highlands) both played college football.
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