2020: Played in two games, seeing action on the defensive line against No. 21 Colorado and Washington State. 2019: Played as a reserve lineman in 10 games … four tackles … three tackles vs. NIU … interception vs. UCLA. 2018: Played in 13 games with six starts (5 at left tackle, 1 at nose tackle) … missed the USC game with an injury … 12 tackles (3.0 TFL, 2.5 sacks) … two tackles against Weber State, Arizona State and Colorado (1.0 sack) … 7-yard sack against BYU … returned an interception 21 yards against Washington. 2017: Played in 11 games, missing the Washington and West Virginia games with injury … 13 tackles (0.5 TFL) … three tackles against San Jose State, Arizona State and Washington State … first-team Pac-12 All-Academic. 2016: Redshirt.
HIGH SCHOOL: Second-team all-state as a senior in 2013 when he had 55 tackles with 17.0 tackles for loss and 2.0 sacks … Highland High (Utah) team captain … also participated in basketball and track and field … attended Brighton HS his freshman year.
PERSONAL: Son of Pita Tonga, Sr. and Susana (Tauteoli) Tonga … both parents played for Utah … father was a Ute linebacker from 1988-92 and led Utah with 94 tackles in 1990 … mother was a first-team all-conference basketball player for Utah and her 36 points against Fresno State set a school record (still ranks third) … father is a fireman and mother is a probation officer … cousin of former Ute defensive tackle Filipo Mokofisi … family, community and human development major … signed with the Utes in 2015 before leaving on a church mission … full name is Pita Vi Folaumoetu'i Tonga (pronounced peet-tuh tong-guh).