CAREER NOTES:
Veteran offensive lineman who has been a consistent presence in the Gophers’ lineup over the past three seasons • has appeared in 34 games with 27 starts.

2008 • JUNIOR SEASON:
Earned playing time in 10 games with seven starts at right guard • started the first two games of the season before being sidelined for two games with an injury • returned as a reserve at Ohio State (9/27) and earned starts vs. Indiana (10/4) and Illinois (10/11) • came off the bench against Purdue (10/25) and Michigan (11/8) • started the final three games of the season vs. Wisconsin (11/15), Iowa (11/22) and Kansas (12/31) • helped the Gopher offense average 322.9 yards and 23.2 points per game • part of an offense that generated 2,848 passing yards, the fifth-most in school history • earned third letter.

2007 • SOPHOMORE SEASON: Earned playing time in 11 of 12 games • made seven starts, all at left guard • integral member of an offensive line that helped the Gophers average 407.5 yards of total offense per game on the season • helped paved the way for four 200-yard team rushing games and three 300-yard passing games • blocked for an offensive unit that passed for 2,949 yards, which is the second-highest total in school history • member of an offensive line unit that yielded just 13 sacks on 467 pass attempts to rank 10th in the NCAA in sacks allowed • earned second letter.

2006 • FRESHMAN SEASON: The only freshman to start all 13 games • helped the Gophers pass for 2,874 yards on the season, the second-highest total in school history • helped the offense score 50 touchdowns on the season, the third-most in school history • part of an offense that has had a 1,000-yard rusher in a school record eight consecutive seasons, one of only two teams in Big Ten history to accomplish that feat • participated in 801 plays • earned first letter.

2005: Redshirted.

HIGH SCHOOL: A 2005 graduate of Cretin-Derham Hall High School • high school coach was Rich Kallock • ranked as the 38th-best offensive guard in the nation by Rivals • selected to the SuperPrep Midwest Team, ranked as the 20th-best offensive lineman • selected as a PrepStar All-Midwest Region performer • was honorable mention all-state in 2003 and was a second-team all-state selection by the Associated Press in 2004 • was all-metro his senior season, making 84 pancake blocks on the offensive line and registering 62 tackles on the defensive line.

PERSONAL: Majoring in communication studies • son of Mase and Utu Tavale • born February 6, 1987.