Buccaneers Draft 2017: Three Things To Know About Stevie Tu’ikolovatu
By Bailey Adams
1. His Path To The NFL Was A Long One
Tu’ikolovatu is a little older than most draft picks. When the season starts this fall, he will be 26 years old. Even more surprising is the fact that the first season of his collegiate career was in 2009. He redshirted in 2009, then went to the Philippines for a two-year church mission trip. He missed the 2013 season with a foot injury and didn’t play much in 2014 before breaking out in 2015.
In the 2015 season, Tu’ikolovatu totaled 28 tackles, with six going for a loss. He picked up two sacks and recovered four fumbles, which tied him for second in the country. After that season, he transferred to the University of Southern California. There, he enrolled in graduate school.
In his only season with the Trojans, the big man made a name for himself. In 13 games, he had 53 tackles, two of which were for a loss. His sack total dipped, as he finished with just 1/2 sack. His performance was good enough for him to be named to the all-conference second team. He plays with high intensity and gets after the ball. That could come in handy for Tampa Bay should he make the team out of training camp.