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The University of Utah Athletics
Utes Sign NFL Free Agent Deals
5/1/2018 10:15 AM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY - The University of Utah football program continues to show the country the caliber of athlete it develops with multiple Utes signing free agent deals in the NFL this week after defensive end Kylie Fitts was drafted in the sixth round to the Chicago Bears.
Offensive lineman Salesi Uhatafe signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons today. He joins former Ute Derrick Shelby who was an All-Pac-12 defensive end for the Utes from 2008-11.
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Uhatafe was an anchor for the Utes at the guard position, playing in 52 games with 38 starts at both right and left guard. He played in over 800 snaps in three straight seasons for the Utes, showing his versatility.
He earned All-Pac-12 offensive lineman as a senior in 2017 after starting all 13 games.
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Lowell Lotulelei signed with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, making him the sixth Ute to join the Broncos.
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Lotulelei was a four-time All-Pac-12 defensive tackle out of South Jordan, Utah. He started all four seasons for the Utes, playing in 51 games. and starting 43. He comes from an NFL family with his older brother, Star, earning a first-round pick in 2013 to the Carolina Panthers.
He 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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Filipo Mokofisi officially signed his free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers on Friday.
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
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
Kenric Young, Boobie Hobbs and Harrison Handley have also received invitations to rookie mini-camps starting next week. Young is headed to the Indianapolis Colts with Hobbs going to the New York Jets. Handley will head to Jacksonville to participate in the Jaguars mini-camp as well.
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Handley played in 39 career games at Utah, showing off his versatility as a blocker and a route runner. The 6-5 tight end proved to be a well-rounded student-athlete at Utah, earning Pac-12 all-academic three straight seasons along with starting at least four games as a sophomore, junior and senior.
In 2017, Handley played in all 13 games with four starts, grabbing three receptions for 16 yards while also blocking for Utah's 1,000-yard rusher in Zack Moss. As a junior, he racked up 168 yards on 12 catches after his sophomore season where he was fourth on the team in receiving yards (286) with a team-best 13.6 yards per catch.
Hobbs wrapped up his career at Utah as one of the best punt return specialists in the country, earning second-team All-Pac-12. As a Ute, he played in 50 games (8 starts), ranking third in school history in career punt returns (71) and fourth in punt return yards (651).
As a defensive back, Hobbs's speed was key, starting in seven games at nickel back and cornerback in 2017. He had 33 tackles and an interception, also tying for third in the Pac-12 in fumble recoveries (2). The New Orleans, La., native led the country in punt return in 2016 (35) and was sixth in the nation in punt return yards with 274.
As one of the fastest players on the roster in 2017, Young showed his versatility after making his move to the defensive side of the ball. Young played receiver in his first three seasons before moving to cornerback as a senior.
He played in 12 games on special teams and appeared on defense in five games in 2017. He also saw some action at kick returner, finishing with three returns for 33 yards.
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Offensive lineman Salesi Uhatafe signed a free agent contract with the Atlanta Falcons today. He joins former Ute Derrick Shelby who was an All-Pac-12 defensive end for the Utes from 2008-11.
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We have agreed to terms with 27 college free agents.
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) May 1, 2018
DETAILS - https://t.co/E9FnObfFUr pic.twitter.com/buOIvwMORq
Uhatafe was an anchor for the Utes at the guard position, playing in 52 games with 38 starts at both right and left guard. He played in over 800 snaps in three straight seasons for the Utes, showing his versatility.
He earned All-Pac-12 offensive lineman as a senior in 2017 after starting all 13 games.
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What a ride it's been, my man @salesi_u ! No one has taught me more about how to handle adversity than you have. Now go have fun in Atlanta and show them what the OBLOCK is all about! https://t.co/nFPX1FtQXS
— Morgan Scalley (@SafetyPride) April 29, 2018
Lowell Lotulelei signed with the Denver Broncos on Tuesday, making him the sixth Ute to join the Broncos.
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Our college free agents:
— Denver Broncos (@Broncos) May 1, 2018
?? @I_CU_boy
?? @HTLJ53
?? @llotulelei
?? @TreyMarshall20
?? @AustinS95
?? @Pedro_Dunkin
?? @Let_9_Out
?? @holland_jeffery pic.twitter.com/zZHBhqSOqR
Lotulelei was a four-time All-Pac-12 defensive tackle out of South Jordan, Utah. He started all four seasons for the Utes, playing in 51 games. and starting 43. He comes from an NFL family with his older brother, Star, earning a first-round pick in 2013 to the Carolina Panthers.
He 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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.@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
Filipo Mokofisi officially signed his free agent contract with the Green Bay Packers on Friday.
The #Packers have signed 14 rookie free agents
— Green Bay Packers (@packers) May 4, 2018
??: https://t.co/XLq4KD96YU pic.twitter.com/kSrGbqpDGY
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
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
Mr. Consistency, @5ilipo !!! People will never know how valuable you were to our defense. Now go ball out in Green Bay and leave no doubt about your abilities!! https://t.co/VyZwWQnmrK
— Morgan Scalley (@SafetyPride) April 29, 2018
Kenric Young, Boobie Hobbs and Harrison Handley have also received invitations to rookie mini-camps starting next week. Young is headed to the Indianapolis Colts with Hobbs going to the New York Jets. Handley will head to Jacksonville to participate in the Jaguars mini-camp as well.
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Good luck to @utahutes88 at the @Jaguars Mini Camp! #UtesInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/PXpQzFSv8P
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 2, 2018
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#ICYMI: @_KYoung24 was invited to the @Colts Mini Camp and @Boobie__8 was invited to the @nyjets Mini Camp. Wishing these guys best of luck!#UtesInTheNFL pic.twitter.com/KlPZ3HHmFt
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 30, 2018
Handley played in 39 career games at Utah, showing off his versatility as a blocker and a route runner. The 6-5 tight end proved to be a well-rounded student-athlete at Utah, earning Pac-12 all-academic three straight seasons along with starting at least four games as a sophomore, junior and senior.
In 2017, Handley played in all 13 games with four starts, grabbing three receptions for 16 yards while also blocking for Utah's 1,000-yard rusher in Zack Moss. As a junior, he racked up 168 yards on 12 catches after his sophomore season where he was fourth on the team in receiving yards (286) with a team-best 13.6 yards per catch.
Hobbs wrapped up his career at Utah as one of the best punt return specialists in the country, earning second-team All-Pac-12. As a Ute, he played in 50 games (8 starts), ranking third in school history in career punt returns (71) and fourth in punt return yards (651).
As a defensive back, Hobbs's speed was key, starting in seven games at nickel back and cornerback in 2017. He had 33 tackles and an interception, also tying for third in the Pac-12 in fumble recoveries (2). The New Orleans, La., native led the country in punt return in 2016 (35) and was sixth in the nation in punt return yards with 274.
As one of the fastest players on the roster in 2017, Young showed his versatility after making his move to the defensive side of the ball. Young played receiver in his first three seasons before moving to cornerback as a senior.
He played in 12 games on special teams and appeared on defense in five games in 2017. He also saw some action at kick returner, finishing with three returns for 33 yards.
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