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The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Kory Mortensen
Spring Football: Defensive Line Preview
3/6/2018 1:40 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah football program knocked out its second day of spring training today at the Eccles Football Center. It is the second of 15 practices the Utes will have this spring.
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The Utes lost several key players to graduation this past season, including three of Utah's four starting defensive linemen in Kylie Fitts, Lowell Lotulelei and Filipo Mokofisi. Mokofisi and Lotulelei were two and four-time All-Pac-12 linemen while Fitts shined as one of the best defensive ends in the country when healthy. But where the Utes will be losing experience, they will gain in size, speed and athleticism.
Junior Bradlee Anae returns after starting 10 games last season with Leki Fotu and John Penisini also getting the starting nod in two and one games, respectively. Also seeing action on the defensive line last season was Pita Tonga, Caleb Repp, Nick Heninger and Maxs Tupai with Aaron Amaama making the switch from offensive line to defensive line this spring.
With 19 defensive linemen participating in spring practices, the Utes will have the chance to develop true depth at a position that has historically been successful for the program. In the Kyle Whittingham era, the Utes hold 11 of the top-22 single-season sack spots in program history, including 43 in 2016 that is tied for sixth all-time at Utah.
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Previewing the Spring Depth Chart...
#6 Bradlee Anae (LE | 6-3 | 265 | Jr. | Laie, Hawaii)
Played in all 13 games last season with 10 starts ... Pro Football Focus all-conference award winner ... tied for second in the Pac-12 in forced fumbles (3) and fourth in fumbles recovered (2) ... tied for seventh in the Pac-12 and led Utah in sacks (7.0) ... tied for a team-best 10.0 TFL ... 39 total tackles to lead the defensive line in 2017.
2017 Best: Career-high eight tackles against Colorado.
Fun Fact: Comes from a long history of success in the state of Utah with his father being a two-time All-American at BYU and his sister being a three-time All-Pac-12 volleyball player with the Utes. His brother, Moroni Anae will be a sophomore on the team this fall after transferring from Riverside Community College.
#9 Davir Hamilton (LE | 6-2 | 240 | So. | Compton, Calif.)
Only saw action in one game last season, grabbing a tackle against San Jose State ... will look to break into the two-deep this fall at left end ... was a two-way player in high school and was a three-star recruit coming out of Long Beach Poly High School ... had over 100 tackles and 2,000 all-purpose yards in high school.
Fun Fact: Has three brothers.
#99 Leki Fotu (LT | 6-5 | 317 | Jr. | West Valley City, Utah)
Played in all 13 games with two starts in 2017 ... notched 22 total tackles that included 3.5 TFL ... also saw action in five games as a true freshman in 2016.
2017 Bests: Season-high four tackles against Washington ... blocked a field goal against Arizona.
Fun Fact: His family is originally from Tonga. His brother, David Fotu will join the Utes in the fall as a defensive tackle.
#41 Hauati Pututau (LT | 6-3 | 305 | So. | Salt Lake City, Utah)
Played in 11 games last season ... had two tackles ... redshirted in 2016.
2017 Bests: Had a pass breakup against Arizona State.
Fun Fact: Is the oldest of eight children with his family being of Tongan heritage.
#49 Pita Tonga (RT | 6-1 | 308 | So. | Taylorsville, Utah)
Played in 11 games last season, missing two with injury ... had 13 tackles ... earned first-team Pac-12 All-Academic.
2017 Bests: Had season-high three tackles against San Jose State, Arizona State and Washington State.
Fun Fact: Both of his parents were athletes at Utah with his father playing football and his mother being an all-conference performer for the women's basketball program.
#52 John Penisini (RT | 6-2 | 322 | Jr. | West Jordan, Utah)
Played in 12 games with one start ... had four tackles on the season ... transferred from Snow College where he was All-Western States Football League honorable mention in 2015.
2017 Bests: Three tackles against Arizona State with a fumble recovery against San Jose State.
Fun Fact: Is majoring in sociology.
#92 Maxs Tupai (RE | 6-1 | 260 | So. | Taylorsville, Utah)
Played in five games last season after redshirting in 2016 ... had two tackles in 2017.
Fun Fact: Was one of five national finalists for the Butkus Award, which honors the country's top linebacker.
#96 Nick Heninger (RE | 6-2 | 240 | So. | South Jordan, Utah)
Played in 13 games in 2017 ... his two fumble recoveries tied for fourth in the Pac-12 ... had 11 tackles on the season ... earned first-team Pac-12 all-academic.
2017 Bests: Had three tackles and a fumble recovery against USC.
Fun Fact: His uncle was the 2009 Mr. Olympia World Heavyweight Submission champion.
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ÂDay ?? https://t.co/pagjVg9zTl
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) March 6, 2018
The Utes lost several key players to graduation this past season, including three of Utah's four starting defensive linemen in Kylie Fitts, Lowell Lotulelei and Filipo Mokofisi. Mokofisi and Lotulelei were two and four-time All-Pac-12 linemen while Fitts shined as one of the best defensive ends in the country when healthy. But where the Utes will be losing experience, they will gain in size, speed and athleticism.
Junior Bradlee Anae returns after starting 10 games last season with Leki Fotu and John Penisini also getting the starting nod in two and one games, respectively. Also seeing action on the defensive line last season was Pita Tonga, Caleb Repp, Nick Heninger and Maxs Tupai with Aaron Amaama making the switch from offensive line to defensive line this spring.
With 19 defensive linemen participating in spring practices, the Utes will have the chance to develop true depth at a position that has historically been successful for the program. In the Kyle Whittingham era, the Utes hold 11 of the top-22 single-season sack spots in program history, including 43 in 2016 that is tied for sixth all-time at Utah.
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ÂWelcome back, @Utah_Football! ?? #goutes pic.twitter.com/7AsjKEe3cj
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) March 6, 2018
Previewing the Spring Depth Chart...
#6 Bradlee Anae (LE | 6-3 | 265 | Jr. | Laie, Hawaii)
Played in all 13 games last season with 10 starts ... Pro Football Focus all-conference award winner ... tied for second in the Pac-12 in forced fumbles (3) and fourth in fumbles recovered (2) ... tied for seventh in the Pac-12 and led Utah in sacks (7.0) ... tied for a team-best 10.0 TFL ... 39 total tackles to lead the defensive line in 2017.
2017 Best: Career-high eight tackles against Colorado.
Fun Fact: Comes from a long history of success in the state of Utah with his father being a two-time All-American at BYU and his sister being a three-time All-Pac-12 volleyball player with the Utes. His brother, Moroni Anae will be a sophomore on the team this fall after transferring from Riverside Community College.
#9 Davir Hamilton (LE | 6-2 | 240 | So. | Compton, Calif.)
Only saw action in one game last season, grabbing a tackle against San Jose State ... will look to break into the two-deep this fall at left end ... was a two-way player in high school and was a three-star recruit coming out of Long Beach Poly High School ... had over 100 tackles and 2,000 all-purpose yards in high school.
Fun Fact: Has three brothers.
#99 Leki Fotu (LT | 6-5 | 317 | Jr. | West Valley City, Utah)
Played in all 13 games with two starts in 2017 ... notched 22 total tackles that included 3.5 TFL ... also saw action in five games as a true freshman in 2016.
2017 Bests: Season-high four tackles against Washington ... blocked a field goal against Arizona.
Fun Fact: His family is originally from Tonga. His brother, David Fotu will join the Utes in the fall as a defensive tackle.
#41 Hauati Pututau (LT | 6-3 | 305 | So. | Salt Lake City, Utah)
Played in 11 games last season ... had two tackles ... redshirted in 2016.
2017 Bests: Had a pass breakup against Arizona State.
Fun Fact: Is the oldest of eight children with his family being of Tongan heritage.
#49 Pita Tonga (RT | 6-1 | 308 | So. | Taylorsville, Utah)
Played in 11 games last season, missing two with injury ... had 13 tackles ... earned first-team Pac-12 All-Academic.
2017 Bests: Had season-high three tackles against San Jose State, Arizona State and Washington State.
Fun Fact: Both of his parents were athletes at Utah with his father playing football and his mother being an all-conference performer for the women's basketball program.
#52 John Penisini (RT | 6-2 | 322 | Jr. | West Jordan, Utah)
Played in 12 games with one start ... had four tackles on the season ... transferred from Snow College where he was All-Western States Football League honorable mention in 2015.
2017 Bests: Three tackles against Arizona State with a fumble recovery against San Jose State.
Fun Fact: Is majoring in sociology.
#92 Maxs Tupai (RE | 6-1 | 260 | So. | Taylorsville, Utah)
Played in five games last season after redshirting in 2016 ... had two tackles in 2017.
Fun Fact: Was one of five national finalists for the Butkus Award, which honors the country's top linebacker.
#96 Nick Heninger (RE | 6-2 | 240 | So. | South Jordan, Utah)
Played in 13 games in 2017 ... his two fumble recoveries tied for fourth in the Pac-12 ... had 11 tackles on the season ... earned first-team Pac-12 all-academic.
2017 Bests: Had three tackles and a fumble recovery against USC.
Fun Fact: His uncle was the 2009 Mr. Olympia World Heavyweight Submission champion.
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