#1

Tai Lavatai

QB · Navy · Sr. · #1

Navy 2023 alumnus
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Tai Lavatai

QB · Navy · Sr · #1

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
—
No recruit profile
CFB
College
Navy
2021–2023
NFL
NFL Draft
—
Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

2 coaches
2021
2022
2023era →

Coaching transition mid-career: Ken Niumatalolo → Brian Newberry. Worth noting in scheme + development context.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Navy4-8HC: Ken Niumatalolo · Run-heavy
2022Navy4-8HC: Ken Niumatalolo · Run-heavy
2023Navy5-7HC: Brian Newberry · Run-heavy, slow tempo

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2023Navy5610155.4%7016.952126.1----
2022Navy429146.2%7878.653130.3----
2021Navy346155.7%4497.452138.1----
Career13225352.2%1,9377.7157130.5----
SeasonTeam
2023Navy752453.32--
2022Navy1153092.75--
2021Navy1703712.27--
Career3609252.614--

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 6 · 2023

W 27–24

vs North Texas

75 yds · 1 TD · 0 INT  ·  QBR 72.0  ·  28 rush yds (3 car)

A wire-to-wire battle — won by 3 at home.

How he plays

Play style

Extends plays with his feet until something opens up.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Scrambler

Makes plays with feet when the pocket collapses. Efficiency still on the rise.

QB

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Jacob Zeno’s 2022 season.

Jacob Zeno

66%match

UAB · 2022

#2

Kyron Drones

Virginia Tech · 2023

66%
#3

Brennan Armstrong

NC State · 2023

66%
#4

Ashton Daniels

Stanford · 2023

63%
#5

Andrew Peasley

Wyoming · 2023

63%

Matches Jacob on

Yards / attempt
Completion %
Weight

Differs from Jacob on

Rush usage (higher)
INT rate (lower)
Based on 11 features · 2 seasons in pool · Opponent-adjusted weighted z-score distance

Through 3 college seasons, his career arc tracks closest to Tim DeMorat’s path through Fordham.

Tim DeMorat

97%match

Fordham · 2022

#2

Matthew Sluka

UNLV · 2024

94%
#3

Michael Collins

Rice · 2020

89%
#4

Cade McConnell

UTEP · 2024

85%
#5

Austin Aune

North Texas · 2022

84%

Matches Tim on

Yards per attempt
Completion %
202120222023
Career-aggregate opponent-adjusted stats · physical traits

As a junior, his production profile tracks closest to Kyron Drones's junior season at Virginia Tech (2024).

Kyron Drones

65%match

Virginia Tech · 2024

#2

Jacob Zeno

UAB · 2022

63%
#3

Mark Gronowski

Iowa · 2025

61%
#4

CJ Ogbonna

Buffalo · 2024

60%
#5

Aidan Chiles

Michigan State · 2025

All-Big Ten
59%

Matches Kyron on

Completion %
Total pass EPA (college ability)

Differs from Kyron on

Rush usage (higher)
Weight (lower)
INT rate (lower)
Opponent-adjusted stats · junior cohort across all seasons

Player DNA

Players who play like Tai Lavatai

#1

Cade McConnell

UTEP · 2023

85%
#2

Austin Aune

North Texas · 2021

84%
#3

Anthony Richardson

Florida · 2022

77%
#4

Dru DeShields

Kent State · 2025

76%
#5

Max Bortenschlager

Florida International · 2021

70%

Development

Development Trajectory · passing yards

2021–2023
4492021
7872022
7012023

+56%

Up 56% from first season to most-recent.