--Matthew Pola-Mao humbled by the opportunity presented by the Sun Devils (by Hod Rabino, Devils Digest/July 16, 2021)
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2021)
REDSHIRT FRESHMAN (2021)
- Hampered by injury and did not see game action
- Redshirted his freshman while working with the scout team defensive line and didn't see game action in the shortened 2020 campaign
- Played at Chandler under current Sun Devil running backs’ coach Shaun Aguano
- Viewed as the 21st-best defensive tackle in the Class of 2019 by ESPN, while the organization also rated him the sixth-best player overall in the state of Arizona
- Registered 141 tackles, 17 tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks during his career
- Helped the Wolves earn a 13-1 record en route to its third-straight state championship in 2018. Chandler finished No. 17 nationally in the USA TODAY Sports Super 25 Expert Rankings and 15th nationally according to MaxPreps
- Selected to play in the 2019 Polynesian Bowl in Hawaii
- Nephew of Troy Polamalu, who with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 2003 to 2014, winning two Super Bowls and making eight Pro Bowl