Oscar Lua Oscar Lua Mexican - American from Jiquilpan Michoacan Mexico . ( born in Indio , Ca May 9 , 1984 ) is former American football linebacker . He was originally drafted by the New England Patriots in the seventh round of the 2007 NFL Draft . He played college football at Southern California . Early years . Lua attended Indio High School in Indio , California . During his senior year he earned various awards and honors , including : 2001 Prep Star All - American ; Max Emfinger All - American ; Super Prep All - Farwest Defensive MVP ; Prep Star All - Western Region ; Tom Lemming All - West ; Tacoma News Tribune Western 100 ; Cal - Hi Sports All - State Medium Schools first team ; All - CIF Division VIII first team ; Los Angeles Times All - Southern California first team ; Los Angeles Times All - Desert / Mountain first team ; Riverside Press - Enterprise All - Riverside County first team ; and All - Desert Valley League Defensive MVP . Despite missing three games with an injury in 2001 , Lua made 148 tackles ( 88 solo ) with three sacks while averaging 13 stops a game , plus had three interceptions ( one returned for a TD ) , four fumble recoveries , six forced fumbles and scored twice on blocked punts . He also was an outfielder on Indio ' s baseball team , hitting . 485 with 11 home runs in 2001 to earn All - League honors for the second consecutive season . He then went on to hit . 456 with 28 RBIs in 2002 . College career . Lua played college football at the University of Southern California . He hoped to push for the starting middle linebacker job as a sophomore in 2003 , but missed spring practice while recuperating from a knee injury suffered late in 2002 . He eventually re - injured the knee , causing him to miss most of the 2003 season . However , he was able to redshirt because of the early - season injury . In 2004 , Lua was a backup linebacker and key special teams player . Overall , he appeared in all 13 games , making 13 tackles , including one for loss . He collected two stops against both Virginia Tech and Oregon State . In 2005 , Lua emerged from fall camp as the starting middle linebacker and did a commendable job . He appeared in 12 games ( starting 11 ) and had a team - high 66 tackles to go along with one - half sack , one fumble recovery , two forced fumbles , one interception and two pass defenses . He was named 2005 All - Pac - 10 honorable mention . On the season , Lua registered : three tackles at Hawaii ; a team - best eight stops against Arkansas ; another eight at Oregon ; three tackles and an interception at Arizona State ; a team - best 10 tackles against Arizona ; 10 tackles and a pass defended at Notre Dame ; seven stops at Washington ; three tackles and a fumble recovery against Washington State ; six tackles and a forced fumble against Fresno State ; two tackles and a pass defended against UCLA ; and six tackles and forced a fumble against Texas . In his senior year in 2006 , Lua was injured during the season - opener against Arkansas . The injury caused him to lose his starting job , which he was never able to re - acquire . After returning from injury , Lua finished the year with 36 tackles . Professional career . Lua was selected by the New England Patriots in the seventh round ( 211th overall pick ) of the 2007 NFL Draft . He was placed on the team ' s injured reserve list before the season . On February 26 , 2008 , he was waived by the Patriots . Post NFL Career . Lua is now director of the Trojan Club of the Desert . He is also involved in property management .