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The University of Utah Athletics
Kylie Fitts Drafted To Chicago Bears
4/28/2018 5:01 PM | Football
ARLINGTON, Texas - University of Utah defensive end Kylie Fitts was selected by the Chicago Bears with the 181st pick in the 2018 NFL Draft's sixth round today.Â
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Fitts is the eighth defensive end to be drafted by the NFL in the Kyle Whittingham era and the fifth Ute to be taken by the Chicago Bears in Utah history. Fitts will join 29 other former Utes who are on current NFL Rosters.Â
Despite battling injuries during his time at Utah, Fitts cemented himself as one of the best defensive ends in the country. After transferring to Utah from UCLA, Fitts made an immediate impact, starting 11 games in 2015 and led the Pac-12 in forced fumbles (4).Â
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He missed the majority of the 2016 season with an injury, but came back with a vengeance, starting 10 games in 2017. Despite his injury struggles, Fitts was still able to rank third on the team in sacks and rack up 23 tackles as a senior.Â
Fitts played in six games as a true freshman at UCLA in 2013 after coming out of high school as a four-star recruit from Redlands East Valley High School. The San Bernardino, Calif., participated in both the NFL Combine and the Reese's Senior Bowl this past offseason.Â
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Filipo Mokofisi and Lowell Lotulelei also signed free agent contracts today with Mokofisi heading to the Green Bay Packers and Lotulelei signing with the Denver Broncos. Lotulelei will be the sixth former Ute on the current Broncos Roster, joining Garett Bolles, Devontae Booker, J.J. Dielman, Tim Patrick and Jeremiah Poutasi.Â
Mokofisi is a two-time All-Pac-12 defensive tackle and a three-year starter for the Utes. The NFL runs in his family with his father being an eighth round draft to the New Orleans Saints in 1986.Â
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He appeared in 48 games with 35 starts in a Utah uniform and was able to show his adaptability by playing both tackle and end when needed. He started in all 13 games in 2017 as a senior and a team captain, coming away with 27 tackles that included 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.Â
He was third on the team in sacks as a junior (5.0), racking up 45 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup in 2016. The Woods Cross, Utah, native also showed his ability to be well-rounded, earning Pac-12 all-academic in 2014.Â
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Lotulelei, a four-time All-Pac-12 defensive tackle out of South Jordan, Utah, started all four seasons for the Utes, playing in 51 with 43 starts. He comes from an NFL family with his older brother Star earning a first-round pick in 2013 to the Carolina Panthers.Â
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Lotulelei was a force for the Utah defense, starting his freshman season by earning first-team Freshman All-America by USA Today after racking up 33 tackles that included 4.5 sacks in nine starts. He followed it up with a first-team All-Pac-12 nod as a sophomore and then back-to-back honorable mention selections as a junior and senior.
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Quarterback Troy Williams was Utah's third to sign a free agent contract today, signing with the Seattle Seahawks.Â
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Williams played in 21 games in two seasons in a Utah uniform after transferring from Santa Monica College. The Carson, Calif., native ranks 14thin Utah history in passing yards (3,569) and was 10-6 as a starter with the Utes.Â
He racked up nine 200-yard passing games in his career, including seven in 2016 as Utah's starter. As a junior, Williams started all 13 games and was fifth in the Pac-12 in passing yards (2,757). In 2017 as a senior, Williams took on a different role as the back-up, but earned team captain due to his hard working and team-first attitude.Â
Williams started his collegiate career at Washington before heading to Santa Monica College in 2015, coming out of high school as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation.Â
Salesi Uhatafe also signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, joining former Ute Derrick Shelby.Â
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Uhatafe was a four-year starter for the Utes on the offensive line, playing in 52 games with 38 starts at both right guard and left guard. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 offensive lineman as a senior in 2017 after starting in all 13 games.Â
He has been a mainstay for the Utes at the guard position, playing in over 800 snaps in three straight seasons. He also showed his versatility on the line, playing right guard from 2014-16 and then left guard in 2017.Â
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Â.@K_Fitts11 is heading to the Windy City! pic.twitter.com/6TyVexSPO2
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 28, 2018
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ÂHeaded to ChiTown babyyy!! Blessed to be with #DaBears?? #BearDown https://t.co/kBWfNyszVJ
— Kylie Fitts (@K_Fitts11) April 28, 2018
Fitts is the eighth defensive end to be drafted by the NFL in the Kyle Whittingham era and the fifth Ute to be taken by the Chicago Bears in Utah history. Fitts will join 29 other former Utes who are on current NFL Rosters.Â
Despite battling injuries during his time at Utah, Fitts cemented himself as one of the best defensive ends in the country. After transferring to Utah from UCLA, Fitts made an immediate impact, starting 11 games in 2015 and led the Pac-12 in forced fumbles (4).Â
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ÂThe windy city just landed a Ute. @Utah_Football's Kylie Fitts has been drafted by the @ChicagoBears! #BackThePac pic.twitter.com/y1W77E4szO
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 28, 2018
He missed the majority of the 2016 season with an injury, but came back with a vengeance, starting 10 games in 2017. Despite his injury struggles, Fitts was still able to rank third on the team in sacks and rack up 23 tackles as a senior.Â
Fitts played in six games as a true freshman at UCLA in 2013 after coming out of high school as a four-star recruit from Redlands East Valley High School. The San Bernardino, Calif., participated in both the NFL Combine and the Reese's Senior Bowl this past offseason.Â
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ÂNot only an outstanding player, but a great teammate and person.
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 28, 2018
Here's a look at what the @ChicagoBears are getting in DE @K_Fitts11. #UtesInTheNFL #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/2HdrVrFXNy
Filipo Mokofisi and Lowell Lotulelei also signed free agent contracts today with Mokofisi heading to the Green Bay Packers and Lotulelei signing with the Denver Broncos. Lotulelei will be the sixth former Ute on the current Broncos Roster, joining Garett Bolles, Devontae Booker, J.J. Dielman, Tim Patrick and Jeremiah Poutasi.Â
Mokofisi is a two-time All-Pac-12 defensive tackle and a three-year starter for the Utes. The NFL runs in his family with his father being an eighth round draft to the New Orleans Saints in 1986.Â
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Â.@5ilipo is heading to the @packers!#UtesInTheNFL #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/CU5JkBKc8o
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 28, 2018
He appeared in 48 games with 35 starts in a Utah uniform and was able to show his adaptability by playing both tackle and end when needed. He started in all 13 games in 2017 as a senior and a team captain, coming away with 27 tackles that included 3.5 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks.Â
He was third on the team in sacks as a junior (5.0), racking up 45 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass breakup in 2016. The Woods Cross, Utah, native also showed his ability to be well-rounded, earning Pac-12 all-academic in 2014.Â
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Â?? @5ilipo's highlights pic.twitter.com/e2c0yZXoBT
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 28, 2018
Lotulelei, a four-time All-Pac-12 defensive tackle out of South Jordan, Utah, started all four seasons for the Utes, playing in 51 with 43 starts. He comes from an NFL family with his older brother Star earning a first-round pick in 2013 to the Carolina Panthers.Â
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Â.@llotulelei is the SIXTH (??) Ute to join the @Broncos squad. He joins JJ Dielman, @dbook23, @Tpstreets, @gbolles72 and @_official_73.#UtesInTheNFL #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/OmpoJlJcNv
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 29, 2018
Lotulelei was a force for the Utah defense, starting his freshman season by earning first-team Freshman All-America by USA Today after racking up 33 tackles that included 4.5 sacks in nine starts. He followed it up with a first-team All-Pac-12 nod as a sophomore and then back-to-back honorable mention selections as a junior and senior.
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Â?? @Broncos! Here is a look at what you're getting from @llotulelei: pic.twitter.com/L25SQNj5BJ
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 29, 2018
Quarterback Troy Williams was Utah's third to sign a free agent contract today, signing with the Seattle Seahawks.Â
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ÂCongratulations @TroyWilliams_3!! He's heading to Seattle!#UtesInTheNFL #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/3PEkPKHFb0
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 29, 2018
Williams played in 21 games in two seasons in a Utah uniform after transferring from Santa Monica College. The Carson, Calif., native ranks 14thin Utah history in passing yards (3,569) and was 10-6 as a starter with the Utes.Â
He racked up nine 200-yard passing games in his career, including seven in 2016 as Utah's starter. As a junior, Williams started all 13 games and was fifth in the Pac-12 in passing yards (2,757). In 2017 as a senior, Williams took on a different role as the back-up, but earned team captain due to his hard working and team-first attitude.Â
Williams started his collegiate career at Washington before heading to Santa Monica College in 2015, coming out of high school as the No. 1 dual-threat quarterback in the nation.Â
Salesi Uhatafe also signed a free agent deal with the Atlanta Falcons on Saturday, joining former Ute Derrick Shelby.Â
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ÂWe see you @salesi_u! He's heading to the @AtlantaFalcons! #UtesInTheNFL #UBoyz pic.twitter.com/i4dPAb1JHD
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 29, 2018
Uhatafe was a four-year starter for the Utes on the offensive line, playing in 52 games with 38 starts at both right guard and left guard. He earned second-team All-Pac-12 offensive lineman as a senior in 2017 after starting in all 13 games.Â
He has been a mainstay for the Utes at the guard position, playing in over 800 snaps in three straight seasons. He also showed his versatility on the line, playing right guard from 2014-16 and then left guard in 2017.Â
Â
Â?? highlights of @salesi_u: pic.twitter.com/t14yWpFKWX
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 29, 2018
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