The Michigan Panthers placed running back Matthew Colburn II (shoulder) on the injured reserve list and re-signed running back Toa Taua on Thursday according to Pro Football Newsroom reporter James Larsen.
Matthew Colburn II is five foot ten and weighs 201 pounds. The 27-year-old from Irmo, South Carolina, re-signed with the Michigan Panthers on August 13, 2024. In 2025, Colburn II has 18 carries for 76 yards, four catches for 36 yards, and two kick returns for 51 yards in two games. He injured his shoulder on special teams last Friday against the Birmingham Stallions.
Matthew Colburn II played for the Blues in 2020 of the TSL. He also had a stint with the Toronto Argonauts and Los Angeles Rams. The Philadelphia Stars drafted Colburn II in the 28th round (223rd pick) in the 2022 USFL Draft. In 2022, Colburn II had 102 carries for 457 yards and eight touchdowns, and three punt returns for 53 yards in ten games.
In the North Division semifinals, Colburn had seven carries for 29 yards against New Jersey before injuring his knee and he missed the rest of the playoffs. In 2023, Colburn II had 77 carries for 264 yards, four touchdowns, 15 catches for 98 yards, one touchdown, and three kick returns for 47 yards in 10 games.
The Michigan Panthers drafted Colburn II in the 2024 UFL Dispersal Draft. In 2024, Colburn II had 90 carries for 401 yards, four touchdowns, and 15 catches for 74 yards in eight games.
Collegiately, Colburn II played four seasons at Wake Forest (2015-18) with 542 carries for 2,550 yards, 15 touchdowns, 34 catches for 306 yards, and four kick returns for 65 yards in 47 games for the Demon Deacons.
Toa Taua is five foot nine and weighs 218 pounds. The 25-year-old from Lompoc, California, attended the Philadelphia Eagles rookie minicamp in 2023 before signing with the Michigan Panthers on May 24, 2023, and appeared in one game for the Panthers in 2023.
The Panthers released Taua on March 23, 2024. He re-signed with the Panthers on May 21, 2024. In 2024, Taua had 8 carries for 26 yards in one game. The Panthers re-signed Taua on August 10, 2024. He attended training camp and was released on March 20, 2025.
Collegiately, Taua played five seasons at Nevada (2018-22) with 855 carries for 3,997 yards, 33 touchdowns, completed 6 of 8 passes (75%) for 96 yards, one touchdown, 163 catches for 1,190 yards, four touchdowns, 10 kick returns for 206 yards, and one tackle (1 solo) in 59 games for the Wolf Pack.
Taua was named the Mountain West Freshman Player of the Year in 2018, a two-time Mountain West Honorable Mention (2019, 2022), and Second Team All-Mountain West Conference in 2022.
