Defensive Ends
10th Year
Lewis Powell enters his 10th season as a Utah assistant coach in 2024, and his ninth working with the defensive line—a position he played for the Utes from 2001-03.
Since 2015 when he began his second stint on Utah’s staff, Powell has sent eight Utes to the NFL, including five draft picks. He also has coached two consensus All-Americans and six first team All-Pac-12 players, including in each of the last three seasons.
- Under Powell’s watch, Hunter Dimick (2016), Bradlee Anae (2018-19), Leki Fotu (2018-19), Mika Tafua (2021), Gabe Reid (2022) and Jonah Elliss (2023) each earned first team All-Pac-12 nods. Aane (2019) and Elliss (2023) also were named consensus All-America.
- Pita Taumoepenu was Powell’s first NFL Draft pick, selected by San Francisco in the sixth round in 2017. Kylie Fitts (sixth round, Chicago) was taken in 2018, while Fotu (fourth round, Arizona), Anae (fifth round, Dallas) and John Penisini (sixth round, Detroit) all went in 2020.
- Dimick (Jacksonville) and Pasoni Tasini (Arizona) made NFL rosters as undrafted free agents in 2017. Tafua signed with Dallas in 2022 as an undrafted free agent.
In 2015, his inaugural season back on staff, Powell coached the Utah tight ends. Since shifting to the defensive line (2016-18) and eventually defensive ends (since 2019), the Utes have consistently ranked among the nation’s best rushing defenses. That standard was instrumental in Utah winning back-to-back Pac-12 Championships and reaching the Rose Bowl in 2021 and ‘22.
- Utah has led the Pac-12 in rushing defense five times (2016, '18-21) and ranked in the top-20 in the FBS each of the past six years. Nationally, the Utes finished top-five or better in 2018, ’19 and ’23.
- In 2023, the Utes allowed 82.8 rushing yards per game—second-best in the Pac-12 and fourth nationally. It broke down to 3.1 yards per carry, ranking second in the Pac-12 and sixth of all Power Conference programs.
- The 2019 squad ranked No. 2 in the FBS in total defense and held six opponents to seven points or fewer, the most by an FBS team since 2006. Utah recorded the best statistical season by a conference team in the Pac-12 era in three categories: total yards per game (269.2), rushing yards per game (81.8) and points allowed per game (15.0). Nineteen of Utah's 33 sacks came from the defensive line, including 16 combined by Anae and Tafua.
- The Utes led the Pac-12 in TFL and sacks in their back-to-back Rose Bowl seasons (98 TFL, 42 sacks in 2021; 90 TFL, 41 sacks in 2022). Both TFL totals ranked among the top-nine in program history for a single season.
- In 2016, the Utes led the conference in sacks (43) and tackles for loss (101) and finished in the top-12 nationally. In 2018, Utah was second in the Pac-12 in total defense and scoring defense, and ranked in the top-20 in the nation in both.
For the collective success Powell’s group has enjoyed, there’s been just as much individual praise on the national level.
- Elliss was named Consensus All-America in 2023, as well as a finalist for the Lombardi Award, Lott IMPACT Trophy, Ted Hendricks Award and Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. Despite his season being cut short by injury, Elliss’ 12 sacks tied for seventh-most all-time by a Utah player, and included a league-leading 10 during conference play. He totaled 16 tackles for loss in just his second season since converting from linebacker.
- Tafua, who finished 2021 atop the conference in sacks (9.5), earned praise as a fourth team All-American, Pac-12 Defensive Morris Trophy winner and East-West Shrine Bowl invitee. He was also a finalist for Polynesian College Football Player of the Year. It came after Tafua earned All-Pac-12 second-team honors in 2020, and honorable mention in 2019 when he tied for the FBS lead with four fumble recoveries.
- Anae led the Pac-12 in sacks in 2018 (8.0) before exploding in 2019 with a career-high 13.0 to become Utah's all-time leader (30.0) and earn consensus All-America status. Anae, a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, ranked eighth in the FBS (second in Pac-12) and was a first-team All-America choice by Walter Camp, Sporting News, AFCA and FWAA, and third-team by the AP. He won the 2019 Morris Trophy as the Pac-12's best defensive lineman, voted on by the league's offensive linemen.
- Also in 2019, Fotu earned second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp and FWAA, and third-team from the AP. Penisini was named second team All-Pac-12, a laurel he received for the second straight season.
- Dimick was a second-team All-American and a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award as a senior in 2016 when he led the Pac-12 in sacks (14.5) and tackles for loss (20.0).
Newcomers to Powell’s group have demonstrated the ability to make an immediate impact, namely in 2022 when his most productive duo had just joined the defensive ends room. Reid came to the Utes as a graduate transfer from Stanford, going on to lead the team with 5.5 sacks and post a defensive line-best 10 TFL. Opposite him was converted wide receiver Connor O’Toole, who started the final four games and had the most tackles (41) of the entire defensive line all season.
His first stop on the Utah staff spanned 2009-11, serving as a graduate assistant coach (2009-10) and later administrative assistant (2011). Powell’s roles during Utah’s transition from the Mountain West to the Pac-12 helped him land his first full-time job, serving as Hawaii’s defensive line coach (2012-14).
- The Rainbow Warriors ranked third nationally in tackles for loss per game (8.3) in 2013.
- Even in a 2012 campaign riddled by injuries, Powell’s unit still earned a pair of All-Mountain West accolades.
Powell lettered from 2001-03 at Utah, playing on the defensive line. He was the 2003 Liberty Bowl Defensive Player of the Game in Utah’s 17-0 victory over Southern Miss. Utah finished the season with a 10-2 record and was the Mountain West champion.
Following his collegiate career, Powell signed a free agent contract and attended camp with the Cleveland Browns in 2004. He played in the Arena Football League as an offensive and defensive lineman for the Memphis Xplorers (2005) and Utah Blaze (2006-08).
Powell holds a Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Utah, which he earned in 2004. The native of East Palo Alto, California, was born Jan. 29, 1981 and is married to the former Levalasi Key. The couple have four children: Alai, Levani, Lewis Jr. and Savai’i. In Fall 2023, Levani signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Utah Volleyball program.
Coaching Experience
| 2015- |
Utah |
| 2019- |
Defensive Ends |
| 2016-18 |
Defensive Line |
| 2015 |
Tight Ends |
| 2012-14 |
Hawaii |
|
Defensive Line |
| 2009-11 |
Utah |
| 2011 |
Administrative Assistant |
| 2009-10 |
Graduate Assistant |
Bowl Games
| 2023 |
Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2022 |
Rose Bowl |
| 2021 |
Rose Bowl |
| 2019 |
Alamo Bowl |
| 2018 |
Holiday Bowl |
| 2017 |
Heart of Dallas Bowl |
| 2016 |
Foster Farms Bowl |
| 2015 |
Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2011 |
Sun Bowl |
| 2010 |
Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2009 |
Poinsettia Bowl |
