Havili's parents, Tevita and Elva, were Tongan immigrants. His father, Tevita, raised eight children on a bus-driver salary in Salt Lake City.
Early years
Havili attended East High 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. 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.
College career
Havili earned playing time during his true freshman season at USC 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 NCAA. Havili started all of his 2007 redshirt freshman season for USC. While starting all 13 games, he gained 134 yards on 21 carries with 2 touchdowns and caught 34 passes for 248 yards with 5 touchdowns. He was a 2007 Phil Steele's All-Pac-10 honorable mention pick. At Nebraska, he ran for 52 yards on 2 carries with a 2-yard touchdown run and caught 3 passes for 22 yards with a 5-yard touchdown. He returned to start his redshirtsophomore year, however was declared academically ineligible for the final game in the 2009 Rose Bowl. For 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 USC. Havili ended his USC career with the most receptions of any fullback in school history.
Professional career
Philadelphia Eagles
Havili was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the seventh round 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.
