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The University of Utah Athletics
Sack Lake City: 2019 Defensive Line Preview
5/29/2019 4:21 PM | Football
In football, there are many techniques that are used to describe what makes a great defensive line, but for Utah, it is more than a technique. It is a driving force inside each and every lineman, the pride in their position and the name they have been given – SACK LAKE CITY, and it is coming to a stadium near you in 2019.
With six defensive linemen returning in 2019 that started at least three games last year, it only makes sense that Athlon Sports recently ranked the Utes front four as the No. 2 defensive line in the country. Bradlee Anae, Maxs Tupai, Mika Tafua, Leki Fotu, John Penisini and Pita Tonga will all return to the gridiron this fall, vying for All-America and all-conference nods, along with fighting for another shot at the Pac-12 Championship Game.
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The Utes currently have 16 defensive linemen listed on the 2019 roster that includes a mix of veterans, key players off the bench and newcomers that will give Utah the depth they need to be an elite line this fall.
Returning Lettermen (7)
Redshirts (5)
Newcomers (3)
Other Returners (1)
Returning Starter Highlights:
Bradlee Anae | SR | Laie, Hawaii
First-team all-conference as a junior after leading the Pac-12 in sacks (8.0), also tying for third in the league in tackles for loss (15.5) … 33 career games (24 starts) … 17 career sacks ranks 11th in program history.
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Leki Fotu | SR | West Valley, Utah
First-team all-conference as a junior … 32 career games (15 starts) … junior season included 33 tackles (5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks) … career-high five tackles against Arizona State in 2018 … played in all 13 games as a sophomore (22 tackles). Â
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John Penisini | SR | West Jordan, Utah
26 career games (nine starts) in two seasons … emerged as one of the best defensive tackles in the country last season … 38 total tackles was second on the defensive line in 2018 … 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks … career-best seven tackles and a sack at Northern Illinois. Â
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Mika Tafua | SO | Laie, Hawaii
11 games and six starts as a redshirt freshman in 2018 … can play both end positions … 23 total tackles that included 7.5 tackles for loss (2.0 sacks) in 2018 … career-best five tackles against both Northern Illinois and Washington last season.
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Pita Tonga | JR | Taylorsville, Utah
24 career games (six starts) … played in 13 games, earning the starting nod in six as a sophomore in 2018 … 12 tackles (3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) in 2018, 13 tackles (0.5 TFL) in 2017 … 21-yard interception return against Washington in 2018.
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Maxs Tupai | JR | Taylorsville, Utah
17 career games (eight starts) … breakout season as a sophomore in 2018, playing in 12 games with eight starts … 32 tackles (6.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks) … career-best nine tackles and a pass breakup against Arizona in 2018.
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With six defensive linemen returning in 2019 that started at least three games last year, it only makes sense that Athlon Sports recently ranked the Utes front four as the No. 2 defensive line in the country. Bradlee Anae, Maxs Tupai, Mika Tafua, Leki Fotu, John Penisini and Pita Tonga will all return to the gridiron this fall, vying for All-America and all-conference nods, along with fighting for another shot at the Pac-12 Championship Game.
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The sun sets in the West.
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 24, 2019
Water is wet.
Our D Line is really good. https://t.co/OmOXWRD2NO
The Utes currently have 16 defensive linemen listed on the 2019 roster that includes a mix of veterans, key players off the bench and newcomers that will give Utah the depth they need to be an elite line this fall.
Returning Lettermen (7)
| Bradlee Anae | Sr. | 6-3, 265 (Laie, Hawaii) |
| Leki Fotu | Sr. | 6-5, 330 (West Valley City, Utah) |
| John Penisini  | Sr. | 6-2, 320 (West Jordan, Utah) |
| Hauati Pututau | Jr. | 6-3, 305 (Salt Lake City, Utah |
| Mika Tafua  | So. | 6-3, 252 (Laie, Hawaii) |
| Pita Tonga  | Jr. | 6-1, 300 (Taylorsville, Utah) |
| Maxs Tupai | Jr. | 6-1, 253 (Taylorsville, Utah) |
Redshirts (5)
| Tyler Gonzalez | R-Fr. | 6-3, 232 (San Diego, Calif.) |
| Blake Kuithe | R-Fr. | 6-3, 250 (Katy, Texas) |
| Viane Moala | Jr. (TR) | 6-6, 315 (Ili'ili, American Samoa) |
| Eli Morrow | R-Fr. | 6-0, 245 (Huntsville, Ala.) |
| Fua Pututau | R-Fr. | 6-1, 260 (Salt Lake City, Utah) |
Newcomers (3)
| Falcon Kaumatule | Fr. | 6-7, 232 (Las Vegas, Nev.) |
| Semisi Lauaki | Fr. | 6-3, 270 (Hawthorne, Calif.) |
| Steven Moea'i | Fr. | 6-3, 265 (West Jordan, Utah) |
Other Returners (1)
| Malik Haynes | Sr. | 6-2, 250 (Hauula, Hawaii) |
Returning Starter Highlights:
Bradlee Anae | SR | Laie, Hawaii
First-team all-conference as a junior after leading the Pac-12 in sacks (8.0), also tying for third in the league in tackles for loss (15.5) … 33 career games (24 starts) … 17 career sacks ranks 11th in program history.
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Bradlee Anae had a whopping 52 QB pressures last season, including 18 sacks plus hits. Watch out for him this year. pic.twitter.com/5ups1Ms3CY
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 27, 2019
Leki Fotu | SR | West Valley, Utah
First-team all-conference as a junior … 32 career games (15 starts) … junior season included 33 tackles (5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks) … career-high five tackles against Arizona State in 2018 … played in all 13 games as a sophomore (22 tackles). Â
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RT if you can't wait for @LekiFotu and #SackLakeCity to return ??
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 22, 2019
99 days. pic.twitter.com/qWHRIeha0u
John Penisini | SR | West Jordan, Utah
26 career games (nine starts) in two seasons … emerged as one of the best defensive tackles in the country last season … 38 total tackles was second on the defensive line in 2018 … 7.0 tackles for loss, 2.0 sacks … career-best seven tackles and a sack at Northern Illinois. Â
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John Penisini was a FORCE for Utah last season and is back for more. pic.twitter.com/w3I1YzWLqy
— PFF College (@PFF_College) May 24, 2019
Mika Tafua | SO | Laie, Hawaii
11 games and six starts as a redshirt freshman in 2018 … can play both end positions … 23 total tackles that included 7.5 tackles for loss (2.0 sacks) in 2018 … career-best five tackles against both Northern Illinois and Washington last season.
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Coming in at No. 5 in @247Sports "nastiest d-lines" is @Utah_Football.
— Porter Larsen (@Larsen_ESPN) March 27, 2019
Bradlee Anae, Leki Fotu and John Penisini are among the Pac-12's elite. Maxs Tupai, Mika Tafua are burgeoning stars and the buck doesn't stop there.#Uteshttps://t.co/cO3c9JkUi4
Pita Tonga | JR | Taylorsville, Utah
24 career games (six starts) … played in 13 games, earning the starting nod in six as a sophomore in 2018 … 12 tackles (3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) in 2018, 13 tackles (0.5 TFL) in 2017 … 21-yard interception return against Washington in 2018.
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The Utah DLine ??
— College Football Rankings ™ (@CFBRanking) May 28, 2019
DE Bradlee Anae
- 47 tkls 14 tfls 7.5 sks 52 QBP
DT John Penisini
- 38 tkls 7 tfls 2 sks
DT Leki Fotu
- 34 tkls 7 tfls 3.5 sks
DE Maxs Tupai
- 32 tkls 6 tfls 3 sks
DT Pita Tonga
- 12 tkls 3 tfls 2.5 sks 1 INT pic.twitter.com/Yqjmfwukjg
Maxs Tupai | JR | Taylorsville, Utah
17 career games (eight starts) … breakout season as a sophomore in 2018, playing in 12 games with eight starts … 32 tackles (6.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks) … career-best nine tackles and a pass breakup against Arizona in 2018.
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#SacksTupai days until the return of Utah Football ?? pic.twitter.com/IAgFKv8O7E
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 29, 2019
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