Michael Mauti

Michael D. Mauti (born January 19, 1990, in New Orleans, Louisiana) is an American football linebacker. He currently plays for Penn State University.

High School
Mauti played high school football at Mandeville High School in Mandeville, Louisiana. He amassed 121 tackles, four sacks, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions returned for touchdowns his senior season. He was ranked among the ESPN.com Top 150 recruits, and a top 20 linebacker by Rivals.com. Mauti played in the 2008 U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

College
Mauti graduated from high school early and enrolled at Penn State in January 2008. His extra time with the team paid dividends, with Mauti contributing on defense and special teams right away. He was one of three true freshmen on the team to play in every game, and finished the 2008 season with 26 tackles, and a forced fumble. He would make an appearance in the Nittany Lions’ 2009 Rose Bowl loss, and received the team's Jim O'Hora Award, presented to the defense's most improved player during spring practice. Mauti tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during summer practice, forcing him to take a medical redshirt for the 2009 season.

Mauti was highly productive in 2010, despite battling through nagging injuries. He finished the season with 67 tackles, two sacks, and a pass breakup. He was named Big Ten Conference Co-Defensive Player-of-the-Week on November 6, recording 11 tackles against Northwestern. Mauti left the game versus Ohio State in the second quarter with a shoulder injury, and was limited for the rest of the season until playing 59 snaps versus Florida in the 2011 Outback Bowl.

Heading into the 2011 season, Mauti was poised for a breakout year. He was named to Athlon Sports' pre-season All-America team and Phil Steele's pre-season All-Big Ten teams, as well as the Bronko Nagurski Trophy and Butkus Award watch lists. But Mauti again tore an anterior cruciate ligament—this time in his left knee—in Penn State's fourth game of the season against Eastern Michigan and was lost for the rest of the year.

Mauti came back for the 2012 season with a chip on his shoulder. During the first four games of the season Mauti recorded a total of forty tackles. During week 5 against Illinois, Mauti recorded 2 interceptions including one which he returned 99 yards, but was stopped at the one yard line with one second to play in the half. Sam Ficken attempted an field goal that was blocked.

Despite missing the last game of the season due to injury, Mauti was named first team All-Big Ten, first team All-American, and won the Butkus-Fitzgerald Award for best Big Ten linebacker.

Personal
Mauti is the son of Rich Mauti, who played wide receiver at Penn State in 1975 and 1976 and the National Football League for the New Orleans Saints (1977-83) and Washington Redskins (1984). His brother Patrick was a wide receiver for the Nittany Lions from 2005 to 2009.

Mauti earned his degree in crime, law and justice from Penn State University in December 2011.