58 Days to Kickoff

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- 07/07/2022 at 2:38 PM #169652
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  PlainsUte
  Ute Fan
  
  @plainsute
  
  #58 Junior Tafuna, RS Sophomore DT, 6-3, 297
  
  Junior played for Bingham High in South Jordan where he was named to the Second Team All-State. Junior did not play in 2020, but burst onto the scene in 2021 when he had 33 tackles in 13 games at DT, 4.5 for loss, a fumble recovery and a pass break-up. That led to him being named Second Team All-Conference and Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year; he was the Defensive Lineman of the Week for his performance vs Oregon on Nov. 20 (3 key tackles and 1.5 sacks for -9 yards). Ute fans are looking forward to more of the same in 2022 and possible elevation to First Team All-Conference.
  
  Video: Junior Tafuna Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week
  
  #58 Junior Tafuna
- 07/07/2022 at 4:18 PM #169655
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  ProudUte
  Ute Fan
  
  @proudute
  
  Thanks, Plains for doing this!!!
- 07/07/2022 at 4:22 PM #169657
  
  Rick
  Ute Fan
  
  @utebiquitous
  
  Is Tafuna the next special tackle- Lotulelei and Leki-like?
  
  He had a number of dominating moments last season that make me wonder if he may be as good or perhaps have even more potential, especially as a pass rusher.
  
  It sure will be fun watching him play this season.
  - 07/07/2022 at 5:05 PM #169658
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    PlainsUte
    Ute Fan
    
    @plainsute
    
    Noone’s more Lotulelei-like than Hunter Lotulelei and noone more Leki-like than Tevita Fotu. That said, Hunter is on the OL and Tevita is a raw RS Freshman, so, yeah, we can hope Junior is the next starr DT. Also think Kafusi could have a great year at DT and special teams. DE Connor O’Toole would be my darkhorse selection as breakout player on the DL.
  - 07/07/2022 at 5:31 PM #169660
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    Yergensen
    Ute Fan
    
    @yergensen
    
    Leki and Star were more block eaters and gap cloggers. Tafuna’s specialty is pass rush. If we get pressure up the middle with what we typically have coming from the edges, watch out.
  - 07/07/2022 at 11:07 PM #169673
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    chinngiskhaan
    Ute Fan
    
    @chinngiskhaan
    
    As others have noted he isn’t Lotuleilei or Leki… but I believe he has the potential to be at least as good, in a very different way. He’s more of a modern pass rushing DT than the other two guys you mentioned. If one of our edge guys can be good enough to command a double team, watch out, he is going to be dominant.
- 07/07/2022 at 11:09 PM #169674
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  chinngiskhaan
  Ute Fan
  
  @chinngiskhaan
  
  It really is surprising to me that he is nearly 300 lbs. He doesn’t look like it at all. I’m an inch taller than that guy, and if I was 300 pounds I’d be very obviously overweight in all the wrong spots (with my body type I’d probably die before I got that heavy). Dude looks very fit for someone that is that tall and nearly 300 lbs.
- 07/08/2022 at 12:07 AM #169675
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  dystopiamembrane
  Ute Fan
  
  @dystopiamembrane
  
  This is the dude that Phil Steele thinks will be an All-American and Athlon thinks will be 3rd team Pac-12.
  - 07/08/2022 at 12:10 AM #169676
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    Central Coast Ute
    Ute Fan
    
    @flip2848
    
    There’s no way he’s 3rd team pac 12.