Tuli Tuipulotu

Last updated

Tuli Tuipulotu
No. 45 – Los Angeles Chargers
Position: Linebacker
Personal information
Born: (2002-09-03) September 3, 2002 (age 21)
Hawthorne, California, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:266 lb (121 kg)
Career information
High school: Lawndale
(Lawndale, California)
College: USC (2020–2022)
NFL draft: 2023  / Round: 2 / Pick: 54
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Total tackles:53
Sacks:4.5
Forced fumbles:2
Fumble recoveries:1
Pass deflections:1
Player stats at NFL.com  ·  PFR

Tuli Tuipulotu (born September 3, 2002) is an American football linebacker for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He was named the Pat Tillman Defensive Player of the Year and a unanimous All-American in 2022. He played college football at USC.

Contents

Early years

Tuipulotu grew up in Hawthorne, California and attended Lawndale High School. He was rated a three-star recruit and committed to play college football at USC over offers from California, Utah, Washington, and Stanford. [1] [2] He is of Tongan descent. [3]

College career

As a freshman, Tuipulotu played in all six games with three starts in USC's COVID-19 shortened 2020 season and had 22 tackles with 2.5 tackles for loss of and two sacks. [4] [5] He was named first-team All-Pac-12 Conference after recording 48 tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, and a team 5.5 sacks. [6] [7] Tuipulotu was named a team captain entering his junior season. He finished the season with an FBS-leading 13.5 sacks, and was named a finalist for the Bednarik, Nagurski, and Hendricks awards.

Professional career

Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span
6 ft 3 in
(1.91 m)
266 lb
(121 kg)
32+14 in
(0.82 m)
10+18 in
(0.26 m)
All values are from the NFL Combine. [8] [9]

Tuipulotu was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round, 54th overall, of the 2023 NFL draft. [10]

Personal life

Tuipulotu's older brother, Marlon Tuipulotu, also played defensive tackle at USC and currently plays in the National Football League for the Philadelphia Eagles. [11] He is also a cousin of former USC and current San Francisco 49ers defensive back Talanoa Hufanga. [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shaun Cody</span> American football player (born 1983)

Shaun Michael Cody is a former American football nose tackle. He played college football for the University of Southern California (USC), and was recognized as a consensus All-American. The Detroit Lions chose him in the second round of the 2005 NFL Draft. He is currently a commentator for the USC football team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenechi Udeze</span> American football player and coach (born 1983)

Kenechi Nduka Udeze is an American football coach and former player who is the assistant defensive line coach for the Tennessee Titans of the National Football League (NFL). He previously served as the linebackers coach at the Vanderbilt University in 2020.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Kalil</span> American football player (born 1989)

Matthew Francis Kalil is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans and was selected by the Minnesota Vikings fourth overall in the 2012 NFL draft. He was also a member of the Carolina Panthers and Houston Texans.

Max Tuerk was an American professional football player who was a center in the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the USC Trojans. He was a first-team all-Pac-12 Conference selection in 2014. Tuerk was selected in the third round of the 2016 NFL Draft by the San Diego Chargers. He spent his rookie year with the Chargers and split time in his second and final NFL season with the Chargers and the Arizona Cardinals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leonard Williams (American football)</span> American football player (born 1994)

Leonard Austin Williams is an American football defensive end for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He was drafted by the New York Jets with the sixth overall pick in the first round of the 2015 NFL draft. He played college football at USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eric Kendricks</span> American football player (born 1992)

Eric-Nathan Marvin Kendricks is an American football linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the UCLA Bruins. As a senior in 2014, he won the Butkus Award as the nation's top collegiate linebacker. Kendricks was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the second round of the 2015 NFL draft and later played for the Los Angeles Chargers.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Jones (American football)</span> American football player (born 1996)

Justin Jones is an American football nose tackle for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at NC State. He was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uchenna Nwosu</span> American football player (born 1996)

Uchenna Nwosu is an American football linebacker for the Seattle Seahawks of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC, and was drafted by the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round with the 48th overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Austin Jackson (American football)</span> American football player (born 1999)

Austin Jackson is an American football offensive tackle for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the Dolphins in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft.

Jayleen Pea Tufele is an American football nose tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC.

Solomon Alijah Lewis Vera-Tucker is an American football guard for the New York Jets of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC, where he was awarded the Morris Trophy in 2020 and was a two-time All-Pac-12 selection. Vera-Tucker was drafted by the Jets in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drake Jackson</span> American football player (born 2001)

Drake Jackson is an American football defensive end for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Drake London</span> American football player (born 2001)

Drake London is an American football wide receiver for the Atlanta Falcons of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was selected eighth overall by the Falcons in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Sione Leti Talanoa Hufanga is an American football safety for the San Francisco 49ers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was drafted by the 49ers in the fifth round of the 2021 NFL draft.

Marlon Tuipulotu is an American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2021 USC Trojans football team</span> American college football season

The 2021 USC Trojans football team represents the University of Southern California in the 2021 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They play their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and compete as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by sixth-year head coach Clay Helton in the first two games; Helton was fired on September 13 following the team's 28–42 loss to Stanford. Associate head coach Donte Williams took over as the team's interim head coach.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2022 USC Trojans football team</span> American college football season

The 2022 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California as a member of the Pac-12 Conference during the 2022 NCAA Division I FBS football season. Led by first-year head coach Lincoln Riley, the Trojans played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles. They finished the season 11–3, 8–1 in Pac-12 play to earn a trip to the Pac-12 championship game. Ranked No. 4 in the College Football Playoff, they lost to Utah in the conference championship game eliminating them from national championship consideration. They received a bid to the Cotton Bowl Classic where they lost to No. 16-ranked Tulane. Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams was awarded the Heisman Trophy for his performances during the season.

Andrew Michael Vorhees is an American football offensive guard for the Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC.

Isaiah Pola-Mao is an American football safety for the Las Vegas Raiders of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC and was signed by the Raiders as an undrafted free agent in 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Christopher Hinton (American football)</span> American football player (born 2000)

Christopher Hinton Jr. is an American football nose tackle for the Los Angeles Chargers of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for the Michigan Wolverines.

References

  1. Grosbard, Adam (December 18, 2019). "Lawndale defensive lineman Tuli Tuipulotu signs with USC". The Orange County Register . Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  2. Young, Ryan (December 20, 2019). "Scouting Report: A closer look at USC DE signee Tuli Tuipulotu". Rivals.com . Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  3. "USC DL Tuli Tuipulotu named 2022 Polynesian College Football Player of the Year". 247Sports.
  4. Trevino, Chris (July 5, 2022). "USC's Tuli Tuipulotu among Pro Football Focus' top DTs for the 2023 NFL Draft". 247Sports.com . Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  5. Kartje, Ryan (April 8, 2021). "USC is looking for hunters on their revamped defensive line". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  6. Stephenson, Duncan (August 12, 2022). "Tuli Tuipulotu is working hard to develop under Shaun Nua". 247Sports.com . Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  7. Wadleigh, Matt (December 8, 2021). "Tuli Tuipulotu earns First-Team All-Pac-12 selection". Trojans Wire. USA Today . Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  8. "Tuli Tuipulotu Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  9. "2023 NFL Draft Scout Tuli Tuipulotu College Football Profile". DraftScout.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
  10. Smith, Eric (April 28, 2023). "Chargers Draft Tuli Tuipulotu with 54th Overall Pick". Chargers.com. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  11. Kartje, Ryan (January 1, 2021). "USC defensive lineman Marlon Tuipulotu declares for NFL draft". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 28, 2022.
  12. Greenspan, Dan (December 15, 2020). "Family ties lead USC's defense into Pac-12 title game". The Seattle Times . Associated Press. Retrieved September 28, 2022.