Hunter Lotulelei continues the family football legacy
MISSION VIEJO, Calif. - More than most, Hunter Lotulelei has a distinct understanding of what it takes to make it in football.
It runs in the family.
Lotulelei’s first cousin, Star, was a first-round draft pick by the Carolina Panthers in 2013, the second defensive tackle taken in that draft after former five-star Sheldon Richardson.
Star Lotulelei’s brother, Lowell, is a top defensive tackle at Utah who considered leaving after this season for the NFL but decided to return to the Utes.
Next in line is Hunter Lotulelei, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound prospect from Salt Lake City (Utah) Highland who wants to differentiate himself from his famous family members and make an impact on the offensive side of the ball.
MORE: Replacing CFB's biggest stars | High school coach recruiting survey
The four-star offensive guard is already committed to Utah, where both of his cousins played.
“I’m just trying to get up to their level or be better than them,” Lotulelei said at the Los Angeles Under Armour Camp.
“They taught me a lot. They all play defense and that’s why I’m switching it up, to play offense. I just want to be something different, something for myself, and make a name for myself on the offensive line.”
From his cousin, Star, Lotulelei learned the extreme levels of work it takes to make an NFL roster. That is something that has not slipped by the four-star prospect, who said he knows nothing will be given to him. If anything, other players want to test him more because of the Lotulelei name.
Hunter said he’s learned to really focus on the books from Lowell. Without a solid grounding in academics, a chance to star at Utah – or any other school - won’t be a possibility.
“(Star) is a hard worker,” Lotulelei said. “He started from the bottom and now he’s at the top in the NFL, first-round pick, No. 14. That’s one of my top goals to get in the league just like him.
“It’s not just on the field. You have to be good academically. That will get you to college and then it’s all about hard work and dedication. That’s what will take you to the further level after that.
“(Lowell) is going to be good. He’s going to probably be a first-rounder just like Star. He was supposed to go this year but he had a tough injury so he’s going to have one more year.”
As for his recruitment, Lotulelei’s commitment remains firm.
Why shouldn’t it? The Utes served both of his cousins well, and he’s already intimately familiar with the program. USC, Colorado, Louisville and others continue to push for Lotulelei, but he said there are no plans to change his pledge.
“I’ve been around the Utah program so much,” Lotulelei said. “I’m like one of their own up there. That’s how I look at them.”
The four-star said while his cousins are big role models in his life – and in his football – that he also wants to make his own name, be his own man.
That could be difficult because the comparisons are probably not going to stop. Lotulelei is fine with it, but it’s also a big reason why he’s decided to pursue his future at offensive guard and not at defensive tackle.
Maybe one day he’ll get an opportunity to block his cousins for real, in the pros.
“I just do my thing,” Lotulelei said. “I just want to make a name for myself.”
That process has already started.
