Utah defensive tackle and protégé of former Lions Pro Bowl lineman says playing with Detroit's Polynesian players would mean the world to him
The Detroit Lions have become a home for a decent amount of the NFL's Polynesian players in recent years. The team has Penei Sewell, Sione Vaki, Gio Manu, Kyle Peko, and Netane Muti currently. They could add one more in the draft with Utah's Junior Tafuna. Tafuna was teammates with Vaki at Utah and he's […]
The Detroit Lions have become a home for a decent amount of the NFL's Polynesian players in recent years. The team has Penei Sewell, Sione Vaki, Gio Manu, Kyle Peko, and Netane Muti currently. They could add one more in the draft with Utah's Junior Tafuna.
Tafuna was teammates with Vaki at Utah and he's played under former Lions Pro Bowl defensive tackle and fellow Polynesian player Luther Ellis. Tafuna called Ellis his mentor as well as his coach.
"Luther Ellis is a great mentor to me, a great coach he's been to me, but more importantly, another father figure to me at Utah. I've seen him play the game and dominate. That's something I'm trying to model after." Tafuna said. "As a person, it's his walk with Jesus Christ. For me, early in my career, I needed that love and I needed that light from someone. He was the person who showed me that walk and I'm still on that walk.
Under Ellis, TaFuna had a really good 2024 season, especially when it came to stopping the run. He had a career-best 76.9 grade from Pro Football Focus in that area. In terms of rushing the passer, that is where Tafuna could use some work.
When it comes to reuniting with Vaki and getting a chance to play with Sewell, Peko, Manu, and Muti, Tafuna would love the chance to make that happen.
"Man, that would mean the world."
At this point, the Lions have not met formally with Tafuna, but he did say that he had an informal meeting with them early in the week. There's still a chance that he could meet with them or that he could be a top-30 visit at some point.
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