Timote "Junior" Maile Tafuna is an American football defensive tackle for the Utah Utes.

Junior Tafuna
Utah Utes – No. 58
PositionDefensive tackle
ClassSenior
MajorEconomics
Personal information
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight308 lb (140 kg)
Career history
College
  • Utah (2020–present)
Bowl games
High schoolBingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Career highlights and awards

Early life and high school

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Tafuna attended high school at Bingham. Coming out of high school, Tafuna was rated as a three star recruit, where he committed to play college football for the Utah Utes.[1][2]

College career

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In Tafuna's first collegiate season in 2020, he did not appear in any games for the Utes.[3] In week eleven of the 2021 season, Tafuna notched a career high nine tackles in a win over Arizona.[4] During the 2021 season, Tafuna had a breakout season totaling 33 tackles with five and a half being for a loss, four and a half sacks, a fumble recovery, and a pass deflection.[5] For his performance on the 2021 season, Tafuna was named the PAC-12 defensive freshman of the year and was named second team all PAC-12.[6][7] In the 2022 season, Tafuna started in all 14 games, notching 27 tackles with three and a half being for a loss, a sack, an interception, and a pass deflection, while once again being named second team all PAC-12.[8] In week ten of the 2023 season, Tafuna recorded his first career forced fumble, which he also recovered against Oregon.[9] In the 2023 season, Tafuna tallied 17 tackles with three being for a loss, a sack and a half, two pass deflections, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.[10]

References

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  1. ^ McDonald, Ryan (November 6, 2018). "Bingham Miners linebacker Junior Tafuna commits to Utah Utes". Deseret News. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  2. ^ Markham, Alex (November 5, 2018). "BREAKING: Utes Local Star, Tafuna". Rivals.com. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  3. ^ Call, Jeff (May 7, 2022). "He's the Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. What's next for Junior Tafuna?". Deseret News. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  4. ^ Bagley, Cole (February 19, 2022). "Utes on the rise: Defensive Tackle Junior Tafuna". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  5. ^ Call, Jeff (August 12, 2022). "Utah's Junior Tafuna eager to improve after being named Pac-12's top freshman defender last year". Deseret News. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  6. ^ Bagley, Cole (August 12, 2022). "Junior Tafuna is maintaining an 'underdog' mentality as he begins his 2022 campaign for Mayor of Sack Lake City". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  7. ^ Dann, Jared (April 20, 2022). "Pac-12 Defensive Freshman Player of the Year Junior Tafuna eyes a repeat Pac-12 Championship and week one win against Florida". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  8. ^ "60 in 60: #13 Utah's Junior Tafuna (Defensive Tackle)". KSL Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  9. ^ Holt, Chandler. "Junior Tafuna Forces Turnover By Taking Ball From Oregon RB Bucky Irving". KSL Sports. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
  10. ^ "Junior Tafuna 2023 Game Logs". Sports Reference. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
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