UCLA football: Bruins’ Maiava misses chance to rock brother

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This is the game UCLA center Kai Maiava dreamed of playing in for years. All that is missing is the person he wanted to hit … his brother. Kaluka Maiava was a linebacker at USC in 2005-08. He was the inspiration for Kai to go to UCLA.

“I automatically wanted to come here out of high school,” Maiava said. I wanted to play against him. We were always competitive growing up. I was always going up against him. That’s the way it is in my family.”

Maiava’s family has a strong competitive streak. His father, Scott Mahoney, was a lineman at Colorado and played briefly in the NFL. His grandfather, “Prince” Neff Maiava, was famous wrestler in Hawaii, where he was a six-time heavyweight champion. And his uncle is actor Dwayne Johnson, who was known as ‘The Rock’ during his days as a professional wrestler, and also played for the Miami Dolphins.

So wanting to butt heads with his older brother seems natural. Kai Maiava just missed his chance.

Maiava didn’t get to UCLA out of high school, signing with Colorado. He went Colorado but transferred to UCLA after his freshman season. He became eligible this year, and is the rock around which the Bruins have built their line.

But Kaluka Maiava is gone, as he was fourth-round draft pick of the Cleveland Browns last spring.

“I’m still trying to play against him,” Kai Maiava said. “Hopefully, one day I’ll reach the level where he’s at and get the chance.”

-- Chris Foster