Joe Anoai

Team Number:	65
Birth Date:	05/25/1985
Height:	6'3''
Weight:	303lbs.
Position:	DT

More Info
UPDATE: Joe Anoai was released by the Minnesota Vikings in 2007 and remains unsigned.

Joe Anoai was born on May 25, 1985 in Pensacola, Florida. He attended the first three years of high school at Pensacola Catholic and then transferred to Escambia for his senior season. In his senior year, the defensive tackle came up with 120 tackles, 12 sacks, six forced fumbles and two interceptions. He was named Defensive Player of the Year by the Pensacola News Journal.

Joe Anoai enrolled at Georgia Tech in 2003 and played as a reserve as a true freshman. That year he played in the Humanitarian Bowl and recovered two fumbles and made two tackles for losses, including a sack against Tulsa. On the year, Anoai played in 11 of 13 games and missed the North Carolina game due to injury.

As a sophomore, Joe Anoai stepped into a starting role and placed third on the team with 11 tackles for loss including 3.5 sacks. Overall, he recorded 34 tackles and two pass breakups. Anoai started the Champs Sports Bowl against Syracuse because of an injury to the usual end, Eric Henderson.

In 2005, Joe Anoai played a crucial role in the Georgia Tech defense, which ranked 13th in the nation against the run and placed in the Top 25 nationally in total defense, scoring defense, pass efficiency defense and turnover margin. He compiled 26 tackles and 6.5 tackles for loss. He helped Georgia Tech to beat 15th-ranked Auburn by pressuring Auburn quarterback Brandon Cox.

In his senior year, Joe Anoai earned first-team ACC honors by helping Georgia Tech hold eight opponents to one offensive touchdown or less on the year. He helped Georgia Tech’s defense rank 9th in the nation in pass efficiency defense and 20th in rushing defense. His totals for the year included 40 tackles, with nine tackles for loss and 4.5 sacks with two fumble recoveries.

In his career at Georgia Tech, Joe Anoai had 29.5 career tackles for loss including 12 sacks. He started every game except one in his last three seasons.

The Minnesota Vikings signed Anoai as an undrafted free agent.

Anoai (pronounced an-uh-WHY-ee) comes from a family of professional wrestlers in the WWE. His brother is “Rosey” and his cousin is “Rikishi.”