Tuli Tuipulotu Declares for NFL Draft
USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu announced his decision to forgo his final years of eligibility with the Trojans and declared for the 2023 NFL Draft on Tuesday.
The 6-foot-4, 290-pound defensive standout was a Unanimous All-American this season and led the country with 13.5 sacks.
“Growing up, my dream was always to play at USC,” Tuipulotu said in a message he posted to social media. “From the first time I stepped foot on campus at USC I knew this would be my home.”
Tuipulotu went on to thank his family, teammates, head coach Lincoln Riley, position coach Shaun Nua, former head coach Clay Helton and former position coach Vic So’oto, as well as all the other coaches he played under.
“Although the outcome of this season was not what we wanted or expected, I gave this university, the fans, the coaches and my teammates everything I have!” he wrote.
Tuipulotu’s Tremendous Season and Career at USC
Tuipulotu finishes his three-year USC career with 116 tackles, 21 sacks, four forced fumbles and a fumble recovery for a touchdown. He was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year for 2022 and his 13.5 sacks this season are the most for a USC defender since Kenechi Udeze set the school record with 16.5 in the 2003 season.
He would have had two years of eligibility remaining due to the 2020 Covid season. But it was clear all year that Tuipulotu was ready to make the jump to the NFL whenever the 2022 season came to a close. For Tuipulotu, that happened after the Cotton Bowl, which is a testament to his leadership and dedication. He brushed aside any thoughts of not playing in the bowl game, saying he couldn’t imagine leaving “his brothers” out on the field without him.
Tuipulotu came to USC as a consensus four-star prospect, but still far outplayed his recruiting ranking as the nation’s No. 374 overall prospect. He played for two different coaching staffs with the Trojans and both raved about his work ethic and personality.
Tuipulotu will be nearly impossible to replace with just one player next season. He was USC’s best defensive player. And he was also a team captain.
The USC defense finished the season on a down note, but Tuipulotu recorded at least one tackle for loss in each of the final six games, as well as 6.5 total sacks.
