Played in all 12 games as a true freshman starting 5 of them. Was one of 12 true freshman to see playing time. Racked up a season high 6 tackles versus UCLA. Finished the season with 21 tackles.
2009
Played in all 12 games starting 11 of them. Had a season high 5 tackles at Arizona State. Finished the season with 19 tackles, 4.5 for loss, and 2.5 sacks.
2010
Started all 13 games at defensive tackle in what would be his breakout season. Was a key factor in getting the Huskies back to a bowl game. Had a season high 7 tackles at Oregon which was then matched versus UCLA. Recorded a 10-yard sack and 14-yard fumble return during the Holiday Bowl. Finished the season with 39 tackles, 5 for loss, and 1.5 sacks. Earned honorable mention All-Pac-10 and won the L. Wait Rising Lineman of the Year award at the post-season banquet.
2011
Started all 13 games at one defensive tackle spot. Named a team captain prior to the start of the season. Earned honorable mention All-Pac-12. Had a good game vs. Washington State, totaling four tackles, two and a half for loss and two sacks. Had five tackles, one and a half for loss and half a sack in the win over Colorado. Two tackles for loss and a sack vs. Hawai'i. Five tackles vs. Eastern Washington. Two tackles in the Valero Alamo Bowl vs. Baylor. Named the L. Wait Rising Defensive Lineman of the Year award at the team's postseason banquet.
Regarded as one of the few two-gap nose tackles, Ta'amu was projected as a third-to-fourth round draft pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. Dane Brugler of CBSSports.com, however, described Ta'amu as "a pass rushing three-technique stuck in a zero-technique's body," who "struggles to hold his ground at the point of attack". The Pittsburgh Steelers nevertheless traded its number 6 pick to move up 10 spots in the fourth round to select Ta'amu with the 109th pick of the 2012 NFL Draft.
Pittsburgh Steelers
On November 12, 2012, Ta'amu was waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers. He was re-signed on November 15, 2012. During the season, he was inactive for seven games and spent six games on the practice squad.
Arizona Cardinals
After Ta'amu failed to make the Steelers' 53-man roster, the Arizona Cardinals claimed him off waivers on August 31, 2013. On September 5, 2015, he was released by the Cardinals.
On January 5, 2016, Ta'Amu signed a futures contract with the Kansas City Chiefs. He was cut on August 5, 2016.
Buffalo Bills
Ta'Amu was signed by the Bills. On August 30, 2016, he was released by the Bills. He participated in The Spring League in 2017.
Personal life
Criminal proceedings
In October 2011 Ta'amu was charged with driving under the influence for an incident that occurred December 12, 2009, while he was playing for the University of Washington. The police report stated that Ta'amu was stopped for driving 73 mph in a 60 mph zone at 3:40 a.m. and that he "smelled an odor of alcohol" and had "blood-shot watery eyes." Police said Ta'amu, who was 19 at the time, registered 0.097 and 0.098 on breath tests. Ta'amu pleaded guilty to negligent driving, for which he was sentenced to one day in a community-work program and ordered to pay a $350 fine. On October 14, 2012, Ta'amu was arrested after he allegedly evaded police while driving intoxicated and struck several parked cars, injuring one person in Pittsburgh's South Side neighborhood. During the chase, before he was apprehended, Ta'amu allegedly shed his shirt in an attempt to evade arrest, claiming he was not the driver of the erratic SUV. As a result of the incident the team suspended Ta'amu for two weeks without pay. On April 4, 2013, Ta'amu pleaded guilty to three counts of recklessly endangering another person, resisting arrest and driving under the influence. Charges of aggravated assault were withdrawn by prosecutors. The trial judge found him not guilty of fleeing and eluding arrest because the officer chasing him along East Carson Street was in an unmarked car. Ta'amu was sentenced to serve 18 months probation, four days in a DUI housing program and 150 hours of community service.
