Former Bingham High Star Postpones NFL, Returns For Another Season At USC

Jan 17, 2020, 12:38 PM | Updated: 12:41 pm

USC Trojans defensive lineman Jay Tufele gets ready to take the field against the Utah Utes during NCAA football in Salt Lake City on Saturday, Oct. 20, 2018. Courtesy of Deseret News.

BY KYLE IRELAND, KSL SPORTS

KSL Sports

LOS ANGELES, Calif. – Former Bingham Miners and current USC Trojans defensive lineman Jay Tufele announced that he would return to school instead of forgoing his final years of collegiate eligibility to enter the NFL Draft.

Tufele announced on Twitter that he would return to USC for his junior season in 2020. The South Jordan native had been weighing a decision to leave school early in favor of entering the 2020 NFL Draft.

“For 2020 I will be returning to USC to fight on for the cardinal and gold,” wrote Tufele.

All glory to god pic.twitter.com/Wr4r28pRYh

— 🇼🇸jay Tufele🇦🇸 (@tufele123) January 17, 2020

He committed to USC head coach Clay Helton and the SoCal school in February 2017.

The former Bingham High star was rated as a four-star prospect by 247Sports during his recruitment.

Had an amazing experience here in Oakland really grateful to be invited to the opening finals!👌💯 #801repin #blessed pic.twitter.com/BTIaSLpJ0B

— 🇼🇸jay Tufele🇦🇸 (@tufele123) May 23, 2016

Tufele played for the Trojans football program each of the last two seasons after redshirting in 2017.

During his freshman season in 2018, the DL started five times including games against UNLV, Washington State, Utah, Oregon State, and California. He received All-Pac-12 second-team honors, Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honorable mention, and USC’s Defensive Lineman of the Year Award in 2018. USC failed to make a bowl game that season after they closed the year with a 5-7 record.

In 2019, Tufele and the Trojans posted an 8-5 record. USC finished in second place in the Pac-12 South Divison behind the Utah Utes, who the Trojans beat 30-23.

Tufele has posted 65 total tackles, 36 solo tackles, 11.0 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 1 pass breakup, and 1 fumble recovery in his college career.

USC kicks off the 2020 season in Dallas, Texas against the Alabama Crimson Tide on September 5.