LEKI FOTU, DT – UTAH: RD 4, 114th pick, Arizona Cardinals
Leki possesses a truly rare combo of size and agility. Seeing a 340lb man move the way he can is honestly something to behold. Fotu has a thick, hulking frame with good length. Carries his weight extremely well and is proportionate. Violent at the point of attack with hand strikes and chops. Physical run stuffer that routinely sets the line of scrimmage and isn’t easy to move. Can be effective as a 1 or 2 technique DT. The only real concern scouts seem to have is his ability as a pass rusher… While there is some room to improve in that aspect, I believe his prowess at getting to the QB is yet to be seen. Due to scheme at Utah, he was more often than not tasked with occupying double-teams and staying assignment sound. This was great for his linebackers, but limited his chances at getting after the QB. A mid to late round projection, I have Leki as a steal in this draft.
THE TONGAN TERROR: LEKI’S TIME WITH THE UTES (via Utah Athletics)
UTAH: 2019 All-American and two-time first-team All-Pac-12 tackle (2018-19) … 45 games with 28 starts.
2019: Earned second-team All-America honors from Walter Camp, FWAA and Phil Steele and third-team honors from the AP … first-team All-Pac-12 … started 13 games at right tackle (missed the Northern Illinois game) … third on the team with 9.0 tackles for loss … 29 tackles … two pass breakups … two of four tackles against BYU were for a loss … four tackles and a pass breakup against Arizona State … named Pac-12 Defensive Lineman of the Week after recording three tackles (1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) against California … forced a fumble against USC … two tackles with a half sack vs. Texas in the Alamo Bowl … team captain.
2018–First-team All-Pac-12 … played in all 14 games with 13 starts … 33 tackles (5.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks) … five tackles vs. Arizona State … four tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) vs. BYU … four tackles (1.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) vs. USC … four tackles (0.5 TFL) against Oregon … four tackles vs. Northwestern in the Holiday Bowl … three tackles vs. Northern Illinois (0.5 TFL) and UCLA.
2017–Played in all 13 games with two starts (Stanford, Washington) … 22 tackles (3.5 TFL) … season-high four tackles included a TFL against Washington … three tackles and a fumble recovery at Oregon … three tackles against BYU and West Virginia … forced fumble and pass breakup against San Jose State … blocked a field goal against Arizona.
2016–Played in five games as a true freshman … one tackle against Oregon.
