SALT LAKE CITY — Leki Fotu will be a run-stuffer in Arizona.
The 6-foot-5, 330-pounder was selected by the Cardinals with the 114th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2020 NFL draft Saturday, joining a long line of former Utah defensive tackles who make it into the league.
He becomes the first Herriman High alum to be taken in the NFL draft, while another former Mustang, Utah linebacker Francis Bernard, could go in the draft’s third day as well.
Before @LekiFotu was a 6'5" 330 pound defensive tackle for @Utah_Football, before he was drafted by the @AZCardinals, he was a tight end at @OfficialMustang and won a state title. #Utes #AllAZ #NFLDraft2020 #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/1DInTBYVbN
— Jeremiah Jensen (@JJSportsBeat) April 25, 2020
“Fotu is a massive run stuffer who should be in an interesting competition with Jordan Phillips for the starting nose tackle job. The Cardinals need to make sure they’re stout in the middle against the run-centric NFC West,” NFL.com’s Mark Dulgerian wrote in analyzing the pick.
Fotu was a 2019 All-American and started each of the past two seasons on the front seven for a formidable Utah defense. Fotu had nine tackles for loss last season, third on the team, and finished his Utes career with 85 tackles and 4.5 sacks.
From the Twitterverse
Athletes just run in the Fotu family.
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) April 25, 2020
📺 #NFLDraft on ABC, ESPN & NFLN pic.twitter.com/DuMCnHDOcr
Big man. Bigger heart. @LekiFotu’s friends, family & coaches talk about when they knew he would be special and the bright future he has ahead of him.
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 25, 2020
Read: https://t.co/klW4KlMoX1 pic.twitter.com/lp5yUToxJO
.@LekiFotu, @Pouha91 has a message for you! #UtahFootballFamily pic.twitter.com/hRpgklfBBQ
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 25, 2020
Cardinals fans, here's a great feature on Leki Fotu. Take a couple of minutes and give it a read: https://t.co/yWipC1IsiQ
— scott bordow (@sbordow) April 25, 2020
Leki Fotu is a reminder of this universal truth: the most dangerous football players in the world are the ones who don’t wear any gloves or wrist tape. these men have no fear and nothing to lose.
— Mike Golic Jr (@mikegolicjr) April 25, 2020
Kind, gracious, incredible teammate, athletic, burst, physical, fearless, beast. CONGRATS @LekiFotu - so many words to describe how you play & how you treat others. The @AZCardinals are fortunate. Be sure to tell @LarryFitzgerald &@AndyLee4 to clean their rooms :) (#Hail2Pitt)
— Yogi Roth (@YogiRoth) April 25, 2020