Jacksonville Jaguars Select Former Bingham High Star Jay Tufele During Fourth Round Of 2021 NFL Draft
May 1, 2021, 10:13 AM | Updated: 10:16 am
USC Trojans defensive lineman Jay Tufele (78) celebrates during a college football game between the UCLA Bruins and the USC Trojans on November 23, 2019, at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, CA. (Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
(Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Jacksonville Jaguars selected former Bingham High and USC defensive lineman Jay Tufele with the No. 106 overall pick during the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft.
The fourth round of the NFL Draft took place in Cleveland, Ohio on Saturday, May 1.
Tufele was opening pick of Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
BREAKING: With the No. 106 overall pick in the 2021 @NFLDraft, the @Jaguars select former @BinghamFB and @USC_FB DL Jay Tufele (@tufele123).#LocalsInTheNFL #NFL #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/WjbRUr2zPv
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) May 1, 2021
Jay Tufele at Bingham High
Before his time at USC, Tufele was a standout player for the Bingham Miners.
He was rated as a four-star prospect and the number one player in Utah for the class of 2015 by 247Sports.
Tufele signed with USC in 2017.
Welcome to the #TrojanFamily, @tufele123!
USC is beefing up its defensive front, including 5-star DL Jay Tufele. #F1GH7ON pic.twitter.com/uLQKzVCAPE
— USC Trojans (@USC_Athletics) February 1, 2017
He committed to the Trojans over offers from BYU, Michigan, Ohio State, Utah, Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Louisville, Miami, Mississippi State, Nebraska, Notre Dame, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State, UCLA, Utah State, Virginia, Washington, and Washington State.
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Jay Tufele at USC
Tufele played for USC from 2018-19.
He did not play in 2020 after opting out of the season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
During his freshman season with the Trojans, Tufele had 23 total tackles, 14 solo tackles, three sacks, one fumble recovery, and a touchdown in 10 contests.
🏈 2019 1st Team All-Pac-12 Selection
👀 7.5 Career Sacks
✌️ 11.0 Career TFLsJay Tufele shined with @USC_FB and looks to stay bright in the @NFL.#BackThePac | #NFLDraft | @PacPremierBank pic.twitter.com/pENBPKYtE4
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) April 20, 2021
He followed that up with 39 total tackles, 19 solo tackles, 4.5 sacks, and one pass breakup in 13 games.
As a sophomore, Tufele helped the Trojans earn an appearance in the Holiday Bowl.
Congrats to DL Jay Tufele on being named to the @OutlandTrophy Watch List!#FightOn | @tufele123 pic.twitter.com/KKg5n59ZFE
— USC Football (@USC_FB) July 21, 2020
He finished his college career with 65 total tackles, 36 solo tackles, one pass breakup, 7.5 sacks, one fumble recovery, and one touchdown.
The 2021 NFL Draft
The 2021 NFL Draft takes place from April 29-May 1. Click here to learn more about how to watch, stream, or listen to coverage of the NFL Draft.
It’s officially @NFLDraft week!
Here are all of the ways you can watch or listen to the picks from Thursday to Saturday. 📺📻🖥📱⌚️#LocalsInTheNFL #YACPodcast #NFL #NFLDraft https://t.co/FJ69McAlRH
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) April 26, 2021
Kyle Ireland is a Locals in the NFL Insider for KSLSports.com and host of the Yards After College Podcast. Follow him on Twitter (@kyleireland) and Instagram (@kyleirelandksl).
