Jay Tufele

Jay Tufele is an American football defensive lineman for the USC Trojans.

Jay Tufele
USC Trojans – No. 78
PositionDefensive lineman
Class
Redshirt
Junior
MajorSociology
Career history
College
  • USC (2017–present)
High schoolBingham (South Jordan, Utah)
Personal information
Born:Salt Lake City, Utah
Height6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight315 lb (143 kg)
Career highlights and awards
  • First team All-Pac-12 (2019)
  • Second-team All-Pac-12 (2018)
  • Salt Lake Tribune High School Football MVP (2015)

Early years

Tufele attended Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah. As a sophomore in 2014, Tufele started on the varsity team, making 63 tackles and six sacks, which earned him a spot on the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first team. As a junior, Tufele anchored a defense that tallied eight shutouts, making 57 tackles and 10.5 sacks on his way to being named the Salt Lake Tribune’s high school football MVP.[1] Tufele did not play his senior year due to a torn ligament in his foot.

Tufele also played rugby in high school.

Recruiting

Tufele was a consensus top-40 recruit and received scholarship offers from over 20 schools, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Utah, and USC.[2][3] Tufele announced his commitment to USC on National Signing Day and enrolled in June.[4]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jay Tufele
DL		 South Jordan, Utah Bingham High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 297 lb (135 kg) Feb 1, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:   247Sports:
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 4 (DL), 1 (UT)  247Sports: 3 (DL), 1 (UT)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.

    College career

    Tufele redshirted the 2017 season. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Tufele appeared in 12 games, starting five times. He made 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. In a week eight game against Utah, Tufele returned a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown, making him a nominee for the 2018 Piesman Trophy, which is awarded for the most impressive play made by a lineman.[5] After the season, he was named to the All-Pac-12 second team, won USC’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award, and was a Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honorable mention.

    As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, Tufele started all 13 games and made 41 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, which was the second-most on the team. After the season, Tufele was named to the All-Pac-12 first team, an honorable mention on Phil Steele’s All-American team, and repeated as the Defensive Lineman of the Year for USC.

    Statistics
    YearGPTacklesFor LossSacksIntFF
    2018 12234.5300
    2019 13426.54.500
    Total2565117.500

    Personal life

    Tufele is of Polynesian descent. His father Line also played football. Tufele has a sister and younger brother.

    References
    1. Phibbs, Trevor (December 29, 2015). "Prep football: Bingham's Jay Tufele named 2015 Tribune MVP". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
    2. "Jay Tufele Recruiting Profile". 247Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
    3. "Jay Tufele". Rivals. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
    4. "Uay Tufele Timeline Events". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
    5. "The Piesman Trophy: college football's greatest award". Banner Society. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
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