Alabama lands a commitment from 4-star OL Samuelu Utu: 'I’m stoked and proud to say I’ll be joining the family.'

Samuelu Utu felt it the first time he was at Alabama in March. On the second visit, he knew he wanted to be part of the SEC program in Tuscaloosa.

Utu tells you why he chose the Crimson Tide.

“Football-wise, the offensive scheme fits my style of play — a lot of counter, screens, and inside/outside zone,” Utu told On3. “Coach Grubb is an amazing coach and an even better person. He made me comfortable while learning new techniques and terminology. I know what I’m stepping into and how well they’ll prepare me for the next phase of my football career.

“When it comes to strength and conditioning, it’s second to none. Coach Ballou prepares you for the field by developing you to hit the right speeds and efficient times. This ties into sports medicine, where they truly set the standard for every school. From stats to doctors, they have it all — and they won’t, for one second, sugarcoat anything when it comes to your health. The injury rate is just 2%. They even have a dedicated team member who works with strength and conditioning to help prevent injuries. I find a lot of comfort in knowing I’ll be well taken care of.

“Academically, it blew the roof off for me. I want to major in anthropology and minor in theology — or the other way around. I was able to hear from all five academic advisors yesterday, and just seeing how much they pour into these men was phenomenal. Just because it’s hard doesn’t mean you can’t do it. Keep going, keep striving — and you’ll get there someday, somehow.”

The No. 211 prospect in the On3 Industry Ranking likes where the school is located too. It may be across the country from Orange Lutheran in Orange (Calif.), but Utu loves the fit.

“More importantly: my faith. Being down South, I felt the Southern hospitality and the love for Jesus. That made my trip even better. I loved talking with every coach about faith and seeing how rooted they are in truly getting to know the Lord. The official visit decision wasn’t hard. I prayed about it and asked God to reveal the reasons He wanted me here — and the student panel was a prime example of God working through these men spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically. My heart was warm, and I felt peace about the decision. It felt right.”

Utu is excited about his future in T-Town

Washington was Alabama’s top competition. SMU was on his list. Others were in play too, but he knows where he wants to be.

“This commitment means so much to my family and me,” Utu said. “We’ve been through so much over the past few years, losing people who meant everything to us. I could only think about one person — my Uncle Mac — who was like a second father to me. I know he’s proud. My aunties are proud too. I know my family is proud.

“This is why I do what I do — and why it’s important to keep going. My family didn’t stop just because life got hard. They kept going to give my siblings and me a better opportunity. This commitment is also for my nieces and nephews, my cousins, and most importantly, for God — thanking Him for the opportunity to grow my platform and to play football at a high level.

“It’s bigger than me. It’s always going to be bigger than me.

“When I think about ‘Bama and what excites me most about playing and going to school here, it’s the amount of support and help I’ll have across the board. I’m stoked and proud to say I’ll be joining the family.”