Utes flip JUCO linebacker
Utah football landed a major coup on Signing Day, as highly touted Arizona Western linebacker David Luafatasaga flipped his commitment from Ole Miss to Utah. UteZone caught up with the talented prospect to learn about his commitment and what to expect.
Q: What do you like about Utah?
A: There was a good connection to the players and the coaches. I feel like they have a strong bond together. The players, they complement each other and they push one another. They strive for greatness there. When I was there, they expressed how they felt as a program and how they’re going to come up. I felt comfortable there and it’s a beautiful place out there. Big Polynesian community. I like how they need me to come there badly because they lost three linebackers that played last year. They need a guy like me to come in and play right away. It’s a good opportunity for me to go there and play right away. I like how they bond together.
Q: What linebacker position does Utah want you to play?
A: Do you know Jared Norris? They want me to play where he played. Blitz, come off the edge, come from everywhere, everywhere on the field.
Q: What do you do well, what are your strengths?
A: I know how to fly around; I know how to get to the ball. I’m a very smart player. I’m physical as well, too, don’t get me wrong. I’m a dog. I’ll get after it. I’m not soft at all. I will come into the hole, and I will lay something, there’s no doubt about that. I do pride myself on being a smart player. If you’re a smart football player, there’s nothing that will go wrong with you, you’ll make plays no matter what. I’m an instinctive player. Not many players can see, I can see what the offense is going to run, and it’s a blessing to me and I thank God for blessing me with that talent. I can read a formation and automatically just know where it’s going to come from. At the same time, if I don’t know where it’s coming from, I know a second option where it might go. I like technique, technique is very important. You can be strong in the weight room, you can push all that weight, but football’s not all about that. Football’s about change-of-direction, how good can you move your hips, how aggressive you can tackle.
Q: Where do you need to improve
A: I think I need to improve taking on blocks. I do a good job of taking on blocks, but I know I can do better. Like I said about the weight room, the weight room helps you. It gives you that extra strength, extra power to be able to handle linemen, because as a linebacker you’re going to have to put your hands on a 300-pound lineman. I think I can improve on becoming stronger and that starts in the weight room. Taking on blocks, using my technique, bettering my technique and my craft. The main thing is just taking on blocks, that’s just about it.
Q: What can fans expect to see out of you on the field?
A: I’ll make plays, do my best to make plays to win games. I want to be on the field, be a playmaker and be a difference maker for the team. Expect me to make some big plays and be ready to cheer on and it’s going to be a good day.