Nebraska's recent attrition at the interior defensive line positions has been well-documented. Bottom line, the losses changed the way you regard the Husker defense.
Which explains the arrival of the big man who visited NU's campus this past weekend.
According to Nate Clouse of HuskerOnline.com, Utah defensive tackle Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, a graduate transfer player, took an official visit to Lincoln and was seen at the Indiana-Nebraska baseball game Saturday with Husker head coach Mike Riley and defensive line coach John Parrella.
The 6-foot-1, 320-pound Tu'ikolovatu, 24, last season played in all 13 games for the Utes, including starts against Washington and Arizona. He recorded 28 tackles, including six for losses, with two sacks. He also had four fumble recoveries, tying for the Pac-12 lead. He returned one of the fumbles 37 yards for a touchdown, against Fresno State. The Utes finished sixth nationally in rushing defense, allowing only 108.6 yards per game.
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Here's the rub: Tu’ikolovatu reportedly finished spring practice listed behind nose tackle Lowell Lotulelei on the depth chart. So, Tu'ikolovatu evidently is in search of a better opportunity for his final year of college.
According to Utah's official team web site, Tu’ikolovato graduated from Salt Lake City East High School in 2009 and joined the Utes' football program as a walk-on. Following a redshirt year, he served an LDS church mission in the Philippines before rejoining the Utes under scholarship in 2013.
The visit to Nebraska is Tu’ikolovatu’s first. The NCAA allows five such trips. It is unclear if he will take any others.
Reach the writer at 402-473-7440 or ssipple@journalstar.com.
Episode 79 The Showdown: The mega Nebraska spring football preview
Steven M. Sipple
Husker sports columnist
Steven, a lifelong Nebraskan, newspaper enthusiast and UNL grad, joined the Journal Star in 1990 and has covered NU football since 1995.
