Earlier on Sunday, it was reported that Utah Utes defensive tackle Stevie Tu’ikolovatu had visited Lincoln because he might be looking to transfer to the Cornhuskers to play his final season of football and now graduate transfer candidate has officially announced he will indeed transfer.
While Tu’ikolovatu has not officially announced, he’s ready to become a Nebraska Cornhusker, the timing of the announcement looks like more than a coincidence. The soon to be former Utah Ute found out during the spring he was going to be a backup.
The news he wasn’t starting apparently led the defensive tackle to go looking for a school where he could get more playing time. The Cornhuskers are certainly such a school and it’s a safe bet head coach Mike Riley and defensive line coach John Parrella made that clear to Tu’ikolovatu when he came to Lincoln this weekend.
The Salt Lake Tribune is one place that seems to think the graduate transfer is heading to Nebraska, though it’s unlikely they have anything more to go on than what we know now. The situation with Stevie Tu’ikolovatu is shockingly similar to the case the Nebraska Cornhuskers just went through with Kevin Williams.
The highlight of Tu'ikolovatu's season in 2015? how bout a 37 yard fumble return for a beloved Fat Guy Touchdownhttps://t.co/Sm9Dy0ciTJ
— Jake Jensen (@Jake_JensenHV) May 22, 2016
Williams left the team this spring after spending the majority of his career here as a backup defensive tackle. Because he is also a graduate, he was able to transfer to Michigan State and will be able to play for the Spartans right away.
While the Cornhuskers would likely rather have both Williams and Tu’ikolovatu the argument can be made that if they can lure Stevie from Utah, they will have traded up at least a little bit. While Williams appeared in eight games last year and recorded just four tackles for the Cornhuskers, Tu’ikolovatu played in all 13 games for the Utes.
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In those 13 games, the Ute recorded 28 tackles, two sacks, and four fumble recoveries. One of those recoveries went for a touchdown against Fresno State. Even if it turns out the Davis Twins are able to mature much quicker than anyone has a right to expect two redshirt freshmen to mature, having depth at the defensive tackle position would be a huge benefit for the Nebraska Cornhuskers this season.