Background
His father, Tevita, raised eight children on a bus-driver salary in Salt Lake City.
His father, Tevita, raised eight children on a bus-driver salary in Salt Lake City.
Havili attended East High (Salt Lake City) as a freshman, then transferred to Cottonwood High School in Murray, Utah, where he earned all-state honors at Cottonwood High, compiling 2,652 all-purpose yards and 32 touchdowns as a senior.
He was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round of the 2011 NFL Draft. He played college football at Southern California. Havili"s parents, Tevita and Elva, were Tongan immigrants.
While a junior, he suffered a shoulder injury and as family couldn"t afford physical therapy, he never rehabbed it properly and has played with a weakened left shoulder ever since.
As of 2010, he estimates it has popped out of its socket 10-11 times. When it does he usually pops it back in and returns to the field
Havili earned playing time during his true freshman season at University of Southern California in 2006. During the third game of the season versus Arizona, Havili broke his leg and was out for the rest of the season.
Because the injury happened early in the season, he was granted a medical redshirt by the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Havili started all of his 2007 redshirt freshman season for University of Southern California. While starting all 13 games, he gained 134 yards on 21 carries (64 avg) with 2 TDs and caught 34 passes for 248 yards (73 avg) with 5 TDs.
He was a 2007 Philosophy Steele"s All-Pac-10 honorable mention pick. At Nebraska, he ran for 52 yards on 2 carries (including a 50-yarder on University of Southern California"s opening play) with a 2-yard Territorial Decoration run and caught 3 passes for 22 yards with a 5-yard Territorial Decoration. He returned to start his redshirt sophomore year, however was declared academically ineligible for the final game in the 2009 Rose Bowl. Foreign the 2010 season, Havili was elected as a co-captain by his teammates.
Havili was Philadelphia Eagles starting quarterback Mark Sanchez"s college roommate during Sanchez tenure at University of Southern California. Havili ended his University of Southern California career with the most receptions of any fullback at the school.
Philadelphia Eagles
Havili was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round (240th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. He was signed to a four-year contract on July 27, 2011.
On September 2, Havili was released by the Eagles in the final round of roster cuts before the start of the regular season. He was re-signed to the team"s practice squad on September 4.
At the conclusion of the 2011 season, his practice squad contract expired and he became a free agent.
He was re-signed to the active roster on January 2, 2012. Indianapolis Colts
Havili was traded to the Indianapolis Colts on March 28, 2013, in exchange for Clifton Geathers. He was released on November 4, 2014.
Seattle Seahawks
Havili was signed to the Seahawks practice squad on November 12, 2014 and released on December 5, 2014.