NFL Draft Scout
Featured In/On:
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Name: Mika Tafua
College: Utah
Number: 42
School Bio/Stats Link: HERE
Height: 6-3 Weight: 249
Position: Pos2:
Class/Draft Year: rSr/2022
40 Low: 4.88 40 Time: 4.95 40 High: 4.98
> Projected Round: Stock: 
Projected High: 7th Low: HPFA
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Data Scout Notes: X-Down to HPFA/Slower/14GP-49TT-13TFL-9.5SK-4QBH in 21/Older/PFA/Coaches say Draftable 2021: 1stC...2020: 2ndC...2019: HMC...23 TT, 7.5 TFL, 2 SCK, 2 PBU, QBH, FF in 5 sts, 11 gms in '18. Redshirted in '17. LDS Mission in '15-'16. Signed w/BYU out of HS in '15.
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Combine Results |
Pro Day Results |
Combine Invite:
Height: 6027
Weight: 249
Zybek PD3X AKA "Official"
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225 Lb. Bench Reps:
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Dates: 03/24/22
Hand: 09 1/8 Arm: 32
Wingspan: 76 1/2
Height: 6027
Weight: 249
40 Yrd Dash: 4.95
20 Yrd Dash: 2.83
10 Yrd Dash: 1.70
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225 Lb. Bench Reps: 24
Vertical Jump: 31 1/2
Broad Jump: 09'03"
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.34
3-Cone Drill: 7.21
40 Time Range: 4.94-4.95/Projected 4.75/**+.20
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Mika Tafua, Utah, Player News
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In 2019, a four-man defensive front featured four seniors in helping that Utes defense finish No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 3 nationally in rushing defense at 81.8 yards per game. Those seniors, consensus All-America first-team defensive end Bradlee Anae, left tackle John Penisini and right tackle Leki Fotu, all left for the NFL, but not much changed. The lone holdover from that 2019 front, defensive end Maxs Tupai, combined with Mika Tafua at the other end spot and a combination of Hauati Pututau, Tennes see Pututau, and Viane Moala at the tackle spots as Utah finished the five-game, COVID-impacted 2020 season No. 1 in the Pac-12 and No. 11 nationally in rushing defense at 107.8 yards per game.A two-time All-Pac-12 selection, Tafua is a lock to st art at one defensive end spot, while Tupai is a safe bet at the other end spot. Tafua and Tupai have 66 career games and 37 starts between them. Tafua has started 13 consecutive games dating back to the 2019 season opposite Anae. The two inside spots mig ht be up for some debate as camp looms. Tennessee Pututau is the projected left tackle after starting the final two games of 2020 as a true freshman. His cousin, Hauati, started the first three games of last season and has 42 career games under his belt. - Salt Lake Tribune
(DS#27 DE) rSr/2022  DE Mika Tafua, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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2020 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM: DL Mika Tafua, Jr., Utah,...Tafua led the defensive line in total tackles (14) while tying for the lead in tackles for loss (3.0)...also had a team-high 3.0 sacks along with two pass breakups, a team-best three qua rterback hurries and a forced fumble...season-high five tackles against USC and Oregon State, recording a sack in both games. - Utah Football
(DS#27 DE) rSr/2022 DE Mika Tafua, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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Three will eventually become four and that would make it 100% for Utah's starting defensive line in 2019. That's what Utah coach Kyle Whittingham says about the guys who did the work up front on a defense that ranked second nationally in total defense (2 69.2 ypg), third in rush defense (81.8 ypg) and sixth in scoring defense (15 ppg) last season. Seniors Bradlee Anae, Leki Fotu and John Penisini went on to be drafted by the NFL. Fotu went to the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round; Anae was taken by t he Dallas Cowboys in the fifth; and the Detroit Lions picked Penisini in the sixth. Eventually, Whittingham predicts, the fourth starter on that line will join them. Defensive end Mika Tafua, who is back with the Utes, is progressing in that direction. H e was tied for second in the nation with four fumble recoveries as a sophomore. Now he's a veteran, joining linebacker Devin Lloyd as the only returning starters for the Utah defense."He is an NFL guy in my opinion," Whittingham said. "He is just a junior, but he has what it takes to play at the next level." Tafua, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound force from Laie, Hawaii, earned honorable mention all-conference honors from the Pac-12 after making 47 tackles (8.5 for loss with three sacks) on a Utah team tha t repeated as South Division champions. He has played in 25 games during the past two seasons - doing so after joining the Utes and redshirting following a two-year church mission to Tacoma, Washington. Tafua originally signed with BYU. "He is a great le ader for us. He was voted captain, so that is what his peers think of him and how much respect he has from them," said Whittingham, who added that Tafua has been a tremendous player since arriving at Utah. "Right now, he is the leader of that defensive l ine." - Deseret News
(DS#27 DE) rSr/2022 DE Mika Tafua, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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2019 ALL-PAC-12 HONORABLE MENTION (COACHES): DL Mika Tafua, So.,...Played in all 12 games at right end, starting 11...tied for the FBS lead with four fumble recoveries...34 tackles (6.5 TFL, 2.5 sack)...named Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week after re cording five tackles (1.0 TFL) with a 68-yard fumble return for a touchdown (tied for the fourth-longest in school history). - Utah Football
(DS#27 DE) rSr/2022 DE Mika Tafua, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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NOV 18 PAC-12 DEFENSIVE LINEMAN OF THE WEEK: Mika Tafua, So., DE, Utah (Laie, Hawaii),...Tafua was a key part in Utah's 49-3 win over UCLA, scoring Utah's defensive touchdown on a fumble recovery return while contributing five tackles (1.0 TFL) and his f ourth fumble recovery of the season...Tafua's fumble recovery return for 68 yards was Utah's fifth defensive touchdown of the season and is tied for the fourth-longest fumble return in school history...Tafua is tied for first in FBS football and ranks fi rst in the Pac-12 this season in fumbles recovered (4)...He is a part of the Utah defense that held UCLA to 50 yards rushing, the ninth team this season that Utah has held to under 100 yards rushing. Also nominated: Kayvon Thibodeaux, DE, ORE; Simon Sand berg, DL, OSU. - Pac-12 Football
(DS#27 DE) rSr/2022 DE Mika Tafua, Utah
News Source: Pac-12 Football
Share/Comment/External News Feed: Here
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