Three-Star DL Tennessee Pututau Signs with Utah

Another returned missionary, another defensive lineman, and another Pututau. We covered Tennessee when we committed to the Utes two years ago before his mission, and we cover what we brought to the table below.

Hometown defensive lineman Tennessee Pututau of East High decided to stay home and commit to and sign with the Utah Utes on National Signing Day. Pututau held multiple other Power Five offers from Arizona, Arizona State, Cal, Colorado, Michigan State, Oregon, Oregon State, Tennessee, UCLA, Vanderbilt, Washington, and Wisconsin. Michigan State was after Pututau hard and hosted him for an official visit, but he chose to stay home and play for Utah, the school three of his cousins committed to.

Watch how well Pututau played against IMG Academy. He beats No. 51 Curtis Dunlap, Jr. and No. 52 Verdis Brown, both four-star recruits despite being much smaller than both of them. This is a great pickup. Pututau will be a force on the defensive line for the Utes. He is strong and uses his hands well (which is how he held his own against bigger offensive linemen).

Pututau will serve an LDS Mission before enrolling at Utah, which is why he did not sign today.

Welcome to the family!

Updated per UtahUtes.com:

Served an LDS church mission before enrolling in school … two-time all-state, earning first-team honors as a senior … two-time first-team all-region … 2018 Polynesian Bowl … 2017 first-team All-USA Utah Football team … four-star recruit by ESPN and three star by Rivals and 247sports … rated the No. 6 player in the state by 247sports and No. 8 by Rivals … led the state in sacks (18.5) and ranked sixth in tackles (136) as a senior at East HS … 27 solo tackles with five sacks in 2016 … son of Howard Sr. and Taina Pututau … one of eight children … four Pututau brothers will be on the Utah roster in 2020: junior defensive tackle Hauati, freshman Fua and 2017 signee Taniela (who is also returning from a church mission this year).