Position: DT
Class: RS Senior
Size: 6-foot-1, 320 pounds
Age: 25
Last College: Utah
Game: Tu'ikolovatu has brought a physical and mental maturity to the defensive line. On the field, he will line up over the ball at nose tackle. Given his immense size, he occupies multiple blockers which frees up the linebackers to make plays. In Clancy Pendergast's system, he is also given the freedom to work off blockers and try to make tackles-for-loss himself, which is different than how he was instructed at Utah. Last year, he graded out as the second-best interior defensive lineman in the Pac-12, per Pro Football Focus.
College Career: Tu'ikolovatu played for the Utes in 2014 and 2015 after missing the 2013 season with a foot injury as a redshirt freshman. He played in all 13 games last year, starting two. He had 28 tackles with six TFL and two sacks, and also led the Pac-12 and tied for second in the nation with four fumble recoveries. As a redshirt sophomore in 2014, he had eight tackles in 12 games.
Clay Helton on Tu'ikolovatu: "He's a load, especially in the run game. What I didn't anticipate is his pass-rushing skills. He's really strong with his hands and does a great job of throwing guys around. The thing that I appreciate about him: he's really brought a level of maturity to the room. Twenty-five-year-old man with a wife, married, and he really has a focus of what he wants to do ... I go to bed thanking the Lord that he's on our football team, because he's really making a difference for us."
Fun Fact: Tu'ikolovatu went on a Mormon mission to the Philippines from 2010-12.
Here is Tu'ikolovatu on his transition to USC and more....
