Malakai Taufoou: Serra’s 4-Star DB Steps Up, Stands Out, and Sets the Tone for 2025
San Mateo, CA — At Junípero Serra High School, the bar is set high. In the four seasons leading up to the fall of 2024, the Padres lost just four total games — twice to Mater Dei in the CIF Open Division State Championships (2021, 2023), once to St. John Bosco (2022 CIF Final), and once in the 2021 regular season finale to St. Francis. That stretch defined a golden era for one of Northern California’s elite programs. But in 2024, Serra hit a rare transition year. And for sophomore Malakai Taufoou, that shift created space for something even more valuable than wins: growth.
At 6’2”, 190 pounds, and carrying a 4-star Composite rating (.9206) from 247Sports, Taufoou is one of the nation’s top defensive backs in the Class of 2027. With double-digit Division I offers, elite camp performances, and a leadership role in one of California’s most respected programs, the Serra sophomore is quickly proving that his ceiling is as high as any recruit in the country.
Emerging Through Transition: Learning and Leading in Year Two
In 2024, Serra finished 5-6 overall, going 4-3 in WCAL play with tough losses to St. Francis, Riordan, and SI, and fell in the first round of the CCS playoffs to Los Gatos. While it was a rebuilding season by Serra standards, Taufoou embraced the challenge.
He started every game at safety, stepping next to senior mentor Teddy Chung — a 3-star safety, Harvard commit, and GSF Senior All-Star, who made a key interception in the 2024 GSF All-Star Game for Team 5-Star.
“Last year, I got to learn from Teddy. Watching how he led, how he worked — that really helped me step into this year with confidence,” Taufoou said. “This year, I had to lead.”
He finished the season with 3 interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, and 35+ tackles, anchoring a young but resilient Serra defense alongside top athletes like 2026 LB Aaron Maier, 2027 DE/TE Dylan Modena and Jace Cannon, and Jeovanni Henley, a 4-star ATH who missed time due to injury.
“Coach McGee really challenged us to lead,” Taufoou added. “We had to grow up fast, and that’s what we’ve been doing all offseason — putting in the work to finish stronger this time.”
Despite the record, the season wasn’t without high points. Serra opened the year with a gritty 22-21 road win over Folsom, a perennial Northern California powerhouse. For Taufoou, it was a reminder of the winning standard Serra still upholds — and a glimpse of what’s to come.
“Since 2019, Serra’s only losses to Northern California teams have come by a point, a couple of points, or a touchdown,” said Alf Joaquin, Executive Producer of GetSportsFocus, who has covered Serra games since 2013. “Last fall of 2024, they were a play or two away from winning or shifting the momentum of the game in their favor.”
GetSportsFocus also covered Serra’s freshman and JV teams throughout 2022 to 2024 and witnessed firsthand the rising talent of the Class of 2027.
“Expectations are high,” Joaquin added, “but Malakai is clearly one of the guys capable of carrying the legacy forward.”
Recruiting Spotlight: Offers, Visits, and Building Relationships
Taufoou’s breakout sophomore year sparked national interest. He currently holds Division I offers from Cal, Washington, BYU, Tennessee, Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Iowa State, UConn, UNLV, San Diego State, and Sacramento State — with more expected as his junior year begins.
He’s made unofficial visits to Cal, Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, and Ohio State, where he’s been welcomed by coaching staffs and teammates alike.
“It’s been crazy,” Taufoou told Jackson Moore of 247Sports. “I went from being under the radar to now getting to walk around college campuses, meet coaches, and realize this dream I’ve had since I was little is starting to happen.”
For Malakai, recruitment is about more than just offers. It’s about consistency.
“I’ve noticed some coaches offer you and then never speak to you again,” he said. “I’m looking for coaches who keep building a relationship. That’s big for me.”
So far, Cal and Arizona have stood out in that regard.
“They made me feel like family,” Taufoou said. “And for me and my mom, academics are huge too.”
One of his most recent offers came from Washington, extended by Coach Taylor Mays — a former NFL safety and USC All-American.
“Coach Mays showed me his film and said he saw some similarities,” Taufoou told Scott Eklund of Dawgman.com. “That was pretty special. He liked the physicality and instincts in my game and said I’d be a great fit.”
Camp Performances Confirm His Elite Status
Taufoou has stood out not only under the lights on Friday nights, but also during elite offseason camps. He shined at the Elite 11 Bay Area Regional, All-22 Bay Area Showcase, and the Under Armour Camp in Utah, where his athleticism and technique stood out.
Following the Under Armour event, Greg Biggins of 247Sports wrote:
“Taufoou was one of our favorite defensive backs. He showed great closing speed, active hands, and physicality without interference. He’s absolutely in the conversation for the top 2027 defensive prospect in the Bay Area.”
Taufoou is currently ranked the No. 18 safety nationally, No. 22 player in California, and No. 210 overall in the 2027 class according to the 247Sports Composite.
“I believe I’m super dynamic,” Taufoou said. “You can put me in the box, I have range, I’m a ball hawk. I want to be able to do it all.”
Family, Foundation, and Forward Thinking
Malakai’s edge comes from the work behind the scenes — especially at Activated Sports Performance, the gym run by his father. It’s not just a training ground for him, but for many Serra athletes.
“He’s been training me since I was a kid,” Taufoou said. “He’s helped a lot of us — not just me. He’s huge for our team and our community.”
Taufoou’s also beginning to study Serra’s offense with hopes of contributing as a two-way player in the near future.
“Right now, I’m just learning the offense, not playing yet,” he said. “But that’s something I want to add to my game.”
Looking Ahead: Legacy in Progress
With two seasons of high school football still ahead, Malakai Taufoou isn’t just chasing rankings — he’s building a legacy. One rooted in Serra’s proud tradition of excellence, and one that reflects the heart and hunger of the Class of 2027.
“We want to leave a legacy,” he said. “We want Serra to be known not just for the past, but for what we’re doing now. Brotherhood, family, hard work — that’s what we stand for.”
The road to 2025 is already in motion. And Taufoou is ready to lead the charge.
“This is just the beginning,” he said. “There’s a lot more to prove.”
Sources:
Scott Eklund, Dawgman.com
Jackson Moore, 247Sports
Greg Biggins, 247Sports
Alf Joaquin, Executive Producer, GetSportsFocus