Taitusi Lutui
Encyclopedia
Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui is a Tonga
n-born American athlete who currently plays professional American football
for the Arizona Cardinals
of the National Football League
(NFL). His position is offensive lineman. He played college football
for the University of Southern California
Trojans and was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft
.The Cincinnati Bengals signed him to a two-year deal on July 29, 2011. On July 31, 2011, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic revealed that Lutui failed his physical with the Bengals, and had resigned with the Arizona Cardinals for 1 year. One of several Tongans currently in the NFL, he is a cousin of Vai Sikahema
, the first Tongan ever to play in the NFL.
. One of six siblings, he is a younger cousin of Vai Sikahema
, who became the first Tongan to play in the National Football League
when he joined the Arizona Cardinals
as a kick returner
in 1986. When Lutui was a few months old, his father, Inoke Lutui, moved the family to the United States
, settling in Mesa, Arizona
, a suburb of Phoenix
. When he was six years old, Lutui survived a car accident that killed one of his sisters and left his father permanently disabled. As a teenager, Lutui had to work to support his family.
Lutui attended Mesa High School
, where he played two-way lineman for the school's football team. In 2001, he was named Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, All-State, all-region and all-conference as a two-way lineman for Mesa High School.
After high school Lutui signed with the University of Southern California
(USC) to play for the USC Trojans football team. However, failed to qualify for admission to the school. Instead, he spent a year at Mesa Community College
, where he played for the school's football team. He then transferred to Snow College
in Ephraim, Utah
, where he received a number of junior college
football honors. By 2004, he had improved his grades enough to enroll at USC.
guard on the University of Southern California
Trojans. At 370 pounds, he was the heaviest USC Trojans
player of all-time.
by the Arizona Cardinals
, where he is reunited with former USC teammate Matt Leinart
. As a rookie, Lutui started 9 games. In 2007, he started 15 games. In 2008, he started 16 games while the Cardinals won the NFC west with a 9-7 record and was part of an offensive line that allowed Cardinals QB Kurt Warner
to break single season records in completions & TD passes. They then had a surprising playoff run getting to Super Bowl XLIII
. During the Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers
's offensive line featured Chris Kemoeatu
, the other Tongan in the NFL. In 2009, he started 16 games as the Cardinals once again became NFC West champions with a 10-6 record.
He is also an Eagle Scout
. In 2004 he married the former Puanani Heimuli; they have four children.
On July 2, 2010, Lutui became a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Tonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
n-born American athlete who currently plays professional American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
for the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
(NFL). His position is offensive lineman. He played college football
College football
College football refers to American football played by teams of student athletes fielded by American universities, colleges, and military academies, or Canadian football played by teams of student athletes fielded by Canadian universities...
for the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Trojans and was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft
2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
.The Cincinnati Bengals signed him to a two-year deal on July 29, 2011. On July 31, 2011, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic revealed that Lutui failed his physical with the Bengals, and had resigned with the Arizona Cardinals for 1 year. One of several Tongans currently in the NFL, he is a cousin of Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema
Vai S. Sikahema is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League , he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was...
, the first Tongan ever to play in the NFL.
Early life
Lutui was born in Haʻapai in the Pacific island nation of TongaTonga
Tonga, officially the Kingdom of Tonga , is a state and an archipelago in the South Pacific Ocean, comprising 176 islands scattered over of ocean in the South Pacific...
. One of six siblings, he is a younger cousin of Vai Sikahema
Vai Sikahema
Vai S. Sikahema is a Tongan former American football player. The first Tongan ever to play in the National Football League , he played running back and kickoff returner in the league for eight seasons, from 1986 to 1993. He played college football for the Brigham Young University Cougars, and was...
, who became the first Tongan to play in the National Football League
National Football League
The National Football League is the highest level of professional American football in the United States, and is considered the top professional American football league in the world. It was formed by eleven teams in 1920 as the American Professional Football Association, with the league changing...
when he joined the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
as a kick returner
Kick returner
In American and Canadian football, a kick returner is the player on special teams who is primarily responsible to catch kickoffs and attempts to return them in the opposite direction. If the ball is kicked into his own endzone, he must assess the situation on the field while the ball is in the...
in 1986. When Lutui was a few months old, his father, Inoke Lutui, moved the family to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, settling in Mesa, Arizona
Mesa, Arizona
According to the 2010 Census, the racial composition of Mesa was as follows:* White: 77.1% * Hispanic or Latino : 26.54%* Black or African American: 3.5%* Two or more races: 3.4%* Native American: 2.4%...
, a suburb of Phoenix
Phoenix, Arizona
Phoenix is the capital, and largest city, of the U.S. state of Arizona, as well as the sixth most populated city in the United States. Phoenix is home to 1,445,632 people according to the official 2010 U.S. Census Bureau data...
. When he was six years old, Lutui survived a car accident that killed one of his sisters and left his father permanently disabled. As a teenager, Lutui had to work to support his family.
Lutui attended Mesa High School
Mesa High School (Mesa, Arizona)
Mesa High School is a public high school in Mesa, Arizona, United States. Mesa High School currently accommodates grades 9-12 as part of Mesa Public Schools.- History :...
, where he played two-way lineman for the school's football team. In 2001, he was named Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, All-State, all-region and all-conference as a two-way lineman for Mesa High School.
After high school Lutui signed with the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
(USC) to play for the USC Trojans football team. However, failed to qualify for admission to the school. Instead, he spent a year at Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College
Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona, is the largest of the 10 community colleges in the Maricopa County Community College District and is the largest in the United States. MCC began in 1963 as a branch of Phoenix College and later granted independent status in 1965.MCC offers more than 200...
, where he played for the school's football team. He then transferred to Snow College
Snow College
Snow College is a rural, two-year state college located in Ephraim, Utah, U.S. It offers certificates and associate degrees in a number of areas...
in Ephraim, Utah
Ephraim, Utah
Ephraim is a city in Sanpete County, Utah, United States. The population was 6,135 at the 2010 census, making it the largest city in Sanpete County. It is the location of Snow College and is located along U.S. Route 89.-History:Ephraim was founded in 1854...
, where he received a number of junior college
Junior college
The term junior college refers to different educational institutions in different countries.-India:In India, most states provide schooling through 12th grade...
football honors. By 2004, he had improved his grades enough to enroll at USC.
College career.
Lutui also known as "Titus" in High School was an All-America2005 College Football All-America Team
The 2005 College Football All-America Team is composed of the following All-American Teams: Associated Press, Football Writers Association of America, American Football Coaches Association, Walter Camp Foundation, The Sporting News, Sports Illustrated, Pro Football Weekly, ESPN, CBS Sports, College...
guard on the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Trojans. At 370 pounds, he was the heaviest USC Trojans
USC Trojans
The USC Trojans are the athletic teams representing the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, California. While the men's teams are nicknamed the Trojans, the women's athletic teams are referred to as either the Trojans or Women of Troy...
player of all-time.
Professional career
Lutui was selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 2006 NFL draft2006 NFL Draft
The 2006 National Football League Draft, the 71st in league history, took place in New York City at Radio City Music Hall on April 29 and April 30, 2006. For the 27th consecutive year, the draft was telecast on ESPN and ESPN2, with additional coverage offered by ESPNU and, for the first time, by...
by the Arizona Cardinals
Arizona Cardinals
The Arizona Cardinals are a professional American football team based in Glendale, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix. They are currently members of the Western Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
, where he is reunited with former USC teammate Matt Leinart
Matt Leinart
Matthew Stephen Leinart , is an American professional football quarterback for the Houston Texans of the National Football League...
. As a rookie, Lutui started 9 games. In 2007, he started 15 games. In 2008, he started 16 games while the Cardinals won the NFC west with a 9-7 record and was part of an offensive line that allowed Cardinals QB Kurt Warner
Kurt Warner
Kurtis Eugene "Kurt" Warner is a retired American football player. He played quarterback for three National Football League teams: the St. Louis Rams, the New York Giants, and the Arizona Cardinals. He was originally signed by the Green Bay Packers as an undrafted free agent in 1994 after playing...
to break single season records in completions & TD passes. They then had a surprising playoff run getting to Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII
Super Bowl XLIII was an American football game pitting the American Football Conference champion Pittsburgh Steelers against the National Football Conference champion Arizona Cardinals to decide the National Football League champion for the 2008 season. The game was played on February 1, 2009,...
. During the Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh Steelers
The Pittsburgh Steelers are a professional football team based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The team currently belongs to the North Division of the American Football Conference in the National Football League . Founded in , the Steelers are the oldest franchise in the AFC...
's offensive line featured Chris Kemoeatu
Chris Kemoeatu
Uikelotu Christopher "Chris" Kemoeatu is a Tongan professional American football player who is currently a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers of the National Football League . He played college football for the University of Utah Utes, and was drafted by the Steelers in the sixth round of the 2005...
, the other Tongan in the NFL. In 2009, he started 16 games as the Cardinals once again became NFC West champions with a 10-6 record.
Personal life
Lutui is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.He is also an Eagle Scout
Eagle Scout (Boy Scouts of America)
Eagle Scout is the highest rank attainable in the Boy Scouting program of the Boy Scouts of America . A Scout who attains this rank is called an Eagle Scout or Eagle. Since its introduction in 1911, the Eagle Scout rank has been earned by more than 2 million young men...
. In 2004 he married the former Puanani Heimuli; they have four children.
On July 2, 2010, Lutui became a naturalized citizen of the United States.