BYU football: Tolutau, Tukuafu absent from team's roster, status uncertain

Published: June 22, 2018, 1:11 p.m. MDT

PROVO — BYU's media day wasn't without its bad news, with a couple of notable football players not listed on the 2018 roster.

Absent from the list were running back Ula Tolutau, who was suspended last season following a charge of marijuana possession, and Joe Tukuafu, who sat out last season after transferring from Utah State. Both are products of East High.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake was asked about both players but wouldn't provide specifics.

BYU coach Kalani Sitake, on losing guys with news that Ula Tolutau and Joe Tukuafu currently not on the roster pic.twitter.com/zPLhD3FbcF
— Brandon Judd (@brandonljudd) June 22, 2018

Cougar offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes said, "They're not with us right now. Hopeful they'll be back in the fall."

Tolutau is a 6-foot-1, 242-pound running back who rushed for 303 yards and two touchdowns last season before his suspension. He originally signed with Wisconsin before transferring to BYU following his LDS Church mission to Bakersfield, California.

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Tukuafu, a 6-foot-4, 275-pound tight end, signed with Utah State before transferring following his LDS Church mission to Argentina. He sat out last season, as mandated by NCAA transfer rules.

BYU football coaches, players and administrators participate in BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake talks with host Dave McCann during an interview on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Tom Holmoe, Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University, (right) watches a television monitor as host Dave McCann interviews BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Tom Holmoe, Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University, (left) laughs with host Dave McCann after an interview on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes, (pictured on monitors), talks with host Dave McCann on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Tom Holmoe, Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University, talks with host Dave McCann during an interview on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU offensive coordinator Jeff Grimes talks with host Dave McCann during an interview on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake smiles after talking with host Dave McCann on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU passing game and quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick talks with host Dave McCann during an interview on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU passing game and quarterbacks coach Aaron Roderick is interviewed during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU assistant head coach Ed Lamb talks with reporters during a breakout session is during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU defensive coordinator and defensive line coach 'Ilaisa Tuiaki talks with reporters during a breakout session is during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU head football coach Kalani Sitake talks with reporters during a breakout session is during the BYU football media day in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU tight end Moroni Laulu-Pututau plays the game Speak Out with teammate BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum during a video interview at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. Part of the game is to put a plastic peace in your mouth that holds your lips back and read a phrase and get your partner to guess what you are saying. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum plays the game Speak Out with teammate Moroni Laulu-Pututau during a video interview at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. Part of the game is to put a plastic peace in your mouth that holds your lips back and read a phrase and get your partner to guess what you are saying. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU tight end Moroni Laulu-Pututau talks with media members during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum talks with the media at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU quarterback Tanner Mangum plays a game with teammate Moroni Laulu-Pututau during a video interview at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU tight end JJ Nwigwe talks with the media at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU running back Squally Canada talks with the media at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building no the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

BYU wide receiver Micah Simon talks with the media at the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building on the BYU campus in Provo on Friday, June 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Tom Holmoe, Director of Athletics at Brigham Young University, (center) visits with former BYU running back Jamaal Williams, of the Green Bay Packers, (left) and former BYU linebacker Fred Warner, of the San Francisco 49ers, during a break in a live broadcast on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Former BYU linebacker Fred Warner, of the San Francisco 49ers, is joined by other Cougars who have played in the NFL during a live broadcast on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

Former BYU running back Jamaal Williams, of the Green Bay Packers, is joined by other Cougars who have played in the NFL during a live broadcast on BYUTV during the BYU football media day in the BYU Broadcasting Building in Provo on Tuesday, May 22, 2018. | Steve Griffin, Deseret News

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