Reviewing the Roster: Linebackers & Defensive Line

Reviewing the Roster: Linebackers & Defensive Line

3/22/2021 1:31 PM | Football

Speed, power, experience and tenacity is what will return to the gridiron this spring on the defensive line and the linebacker position as the Utah Football program enters its second week of spring practices today.

With All-America candidates, returning All-Pac-12 selections and a new group of eager young linebackers and linemen, Utah fans are sure to see the explosive power they are used to from the defensive front seven this spring.

RETURNING UTES
Six of Utah’s 10 returning starters on defense come from the defensive line and linebacker rooms, including Devin Lloyd (LB), Nephi Sewell (LB), Hauati Pututau (DL), Mika Tafua (DL), Viane Moala (DL) and Maxs Tupai (DL).

Lloyd, Tafua and Sewell all earned Pac-12 All-Conference in 2020 with Lloyd being named to the first-team after leading the Utes in total tackles for the second year in a row.

NEWCOMER NOTES
The Utes signed three rookie linebackers out of high school in Jonah Elliss (6-3, 220), Trey Reynolds (6-2, 235) and Mason Tufaga (6-2, 220) with Reynolds and Tufaga making the spring two-deep. Tufaga, a four-star recruit out of St. Louis HS in Honolulu, Hawaii, was ranked the No. 15 inside linebacker nationally coming out of high school.

On the defensive line, two early enrollees have had a strong spring camp so far in Jonny Fanaika and Simote Pepa. Both returning from missions, Pepa was rated the No. 6 player in the state of Utah out of Bingham HS in 2017 while Fanaika was a standout for Pleasant Grove HS.

QUICK HITS ON UTAH’S SPRING DL/LB DEPTH CHART

42 :: Mika Tafua :: Left Defensive End :: 6-3, 250, Jr. :: Laie, Hawaii (Kamehameha HS)
Two-time All-Pac-12, earning second-team in 2020 … 30 career games played at Utah with 24 starts … led the defensive line in 2020 with 14 tackles (3.0 TFL, 3.0 sacks), adding two pass breakups, three QBH and a forced fumble … tied for fourth in program history with four fumble recoveries in 2019 … career-high eight tackles (1.5 TFL, 0.5 sack) against Texas in the Alamo Bowl in 2019 … 68-yard fumble return for a touchdown against UCLA.

91 :: Blake Kuithe :: Left Defensive End :: 6-3, 255, So. :: Katy, Texas (Cinco Ranch HS)
Earned his first collegiate playing time in 2020 after battling injuries through 2018 and 2019 … played in two games in 2020, starting against Washington State … had two tackles and a forced fumble in his first-career start against WSU … all-state and a three-time all-district selection out of high school.

44 :: Xavier Carlton :: Left Defensive End :: 6-6, 260, Fr. :: Herriman, Utah (Juan Diego Catholic HS)
Played in four games as a true freshman in 2020, recording a solo tackle against USC … four-star recruit out of high school, ranking as the No. 12 strong side defensive end in the country … No. 2 player in the state of Utah … first-team all-state selection had 91 total tackles (8.0 sacks) on the defensive line in high school.

Xavier Carlton (44)

92 :: Maxs Tupai :: Right Defensive End :: 6-1, 265, Sr. :: Taylorsville, Utah (Murray HS)
Has played in 36 career games for Utah, starting 13 … played in all five games in 2020 with four starts … season-high four tackles against No. 21 Colorado, also forcing a fumble with one QB hurry in 2020 … had a career-high nine tackles and a pass breakup against Arizona in 2018 … blocked a field goal against Washington State in 2018.

7 :: Van Fillinger :: Right Defensive End :: 6-4, 255, Fr. :: Draper, Utah (Corner Canyon HS)
Played in all five games as a true freshman in 2020 … season-high two tackles against No. 20 USC last season … four-star recruit out of high school, rated the No. 11 strong side defensive end in the country and the No. 2 player out of Utah … two-time first-team all-state and three-time all-region at Corner Canyon.

47 :: Miki Suguturaga :: Right Defensive End :: 6-4, 260, R-Fr. :: Kaneohe, Hawaii (Punahou School)
Played in two games in 2020 (Oregon State, Washington State) and in two games as a redshirt in 2019 … ILH Division I Defensive MVP in 2016 for Punahou School, also earning first-team USA Today All-Hawaii Team … placed second in the state in the discus and fifth in the shot put in 2016.

Miki Suguturaga (47) and Devin Kaufusi (90)

98 :: Viane Moala :: Left Defensive Tackle :: 6-6, 323, Sr. :: Ili’ili, American Samoa (Hawaii)
Has 42 games of experience at the Division I football level after playing in 24 at Hawaii from 2016-17 and 18 at Utah … played in four games in 2020, starting three … played in all 14 games in 2019 with a season-high four tackles and a pass break-up coming against Idaho State … earned All-Mountain West in 2017 at Hawaii, leading the defensive line with 36 tackles (5.5 TFL) that year.

90 :: Devin Kaufusi :: Left Defensive Tackle :: 6-7, 270, Jr. :: Provo, Utah (BYU)
Played in 25 games over two seasons at BYU (2018-19) before transferring to Utah for the 2020 season … played in five games in 2020, starting two … season-high three tackles (1.0 TFL) and a pass breakup against No. 20 USC … pass breakup and a fumble recovery against Washington State … had 10 tackles with two pass breakups and a fumble recovery for BYU in 2019.

99 :: Tennessee Pututau :: Right Defensive Tackle :: 6-1, 285, Fr. :: West Valley City, Utah (East HS)
Played in all five games as a true freshman in 2020, starting two … 10 total tackles (3.0 TFL) and a QB hurry … career-high five tackles (2.0 TFL) against Washington State … four-star recruit out of East HS, ranked the No. 6 recruit out of Utah … two-time all-state and all-region selection.

41 :: Hauati Pututau :: Right Defensive Tackle :: 6-3, 310, Sr. :: Salt Lake City, Utah (Cottonwood HS)
Has played in 42 career games for the Utes … started the first three games of 2020 with 10 tackles (3.0 TFL, 2.0 sacks) and a pass breakup … career-high tying four tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) against Oregon State … career-high 19 total tackles (4.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) in 2018 … first-career interception along with a pass breakup and a tackle against Stanford in 2018.

1 :: Nephi Sewell :: Rover Linebacker :: 6-0, 225, Jr. :: St. George, Utah (Nevada)
Pac-12 All-Conference honorable mention in 2020 after starting all five games … second on the team with 40 tackles in 2020 (6.0 TFL), adding a forced fumble, two fumble recoveries (1 TD) and a team-high tying two interceptions … career-high 11 tackles (1.0 TFL), an interception and a forced fumble against No. 21 Colorado … played in three games in 2019, starting at safety against Texas in the Alamo Bowl … played in 23 games with 19 starts at Nevada from 2017-18.

55 :: Andrew Mata’afa :: Rover Linebacker :: 6-3, 225, So. :: San Diego, Calif. (Mt. Carmel HS)
Lengthy linebacker played in all five games in 2020, racking up three tackles on special teams … saw action in seven games in 2019, recording his first-career pass breakup against Oregon State … played both ways in high school as a linebacker and a tight end, also earning All-CIF in volleyball.

0 :: Devin Lloyd :: MAC Linebacker :: 6-3, 232, Jr. :: Chula Vista, Calif. (Otay Ranch HS)
Two-time All-Pac-12 selection, earning first-team honors in 2020 … Butkus Award and Pop Warner College Football Award Finalist in 2020, also earning Sporting News All-America second-team and Phil Steele All-America honorable mention … has played in 33 career games with 19 starts … led Utah in back-to-back seasons in total tackles (2020: 48; 2019: 91) … 10.0 TFL in 2020 to lead the team … ranked eighth in the FBS and fifth in the Pac-12 in solo tackles per game (6.6), second in the FBS and the Pac-12 in tackles for loss per game (2.0) and fifth in the Pac-12 in total tackles per game (9.6).

37 :: Trey Reynolds :: MAC Linebacker :: 6-2, 235, Fr. :: Queen Creek, Ariz. (Queen Creek HS)
Three-star recruit out of Queen Creek HS, rated the No. 9 recruit in the state of Arizona … two-time All-Arizona selection and was the Arizona Cardinals Defensive Player of the Year as a senior … 157 tackles (2.0 TFL) as a senior after leading all of 6A football with 159 tackles as a junior.

Trey Reynolds (37)

52 :: Mason Tufaga :: MAC Linebacker :: 6-2, 220, Fr. :: Honolulu, Hawaii (St. Louis HS)
Four-star recruit out of St. Louis HS, rated the No. 2 recruit in the state of Hawaii and the No. 15 inside linebacker nationally … All-Hawaii team as a junior after recording 21 tackles (3.5 TFL) and a forced fumble that season … his father played football for Utah from 1997-00 and his aunt played volleyball for the Utes.

32 :: Moroni Anae :: STUD Linebacker :: 6-1, 225, Jr. :: San Diego, Calif. (Cathedral Catholic HS)
Played in his first FBS games in 2020, seeing action in all five games, including on defense in three … career-high two tackles against Oregon State … transferred to Utah from Riverside CC in 2018 where he played in all 11 games as a freshman, recording 37 tackles (5.0 TFL) and a fumble recovery.

54 :: Hayden Furey :: STUD Linebacker :: 6-2, 225, So. :: Saratoga Springs, Utah (Westlake HS)
Walked on the team in 2019 to immediately earn playing time … played in three games in 2020 and in five in 2019 as a true freshman … standout for Westlake HS had 49 tackles with two passes defended and a forced fumble as a senior in 2018.