Tuli Tuipulotu Looks to Continue Historic Season as USC Enters the Home Stretch
If you think that you’ve heard the Trojan Marching Band playing their sack song, “Another One Bites the Dust”, more than usual this season, you would not be mistaken. The USC defense has indeed been quite successful at getting to the quarterback this year, having already racked up more sacks than they did in two of the past three full seasons. And a large part of that is due to a historic season from number 49, Tuli Tuipulotu.
Through ten games, Tuipulotu has already racked up 11.5 sacks, the second-most by a Trojan since 2004. Only Morgan Breslin, who recorded 13 sacks in 2012, has had more during that era. USC’s all-time single-season sack record belongs to Tim Ryan, who brought down opposing quarterbacks 20 times in 1989. (Kenechi Udeze holds the USC mark for most sacks in a season this century, with 16.5 in 2003.)
Tuli’s Historic Season Continues vs. Colorado
On Friday against Colorado, Tuipulotu continued his dominant season with yet another strong performance. The junior defensive lineman recorded three total tackles, 2.5 sacks, a pass deflection, and a forced fumble to help the Trojans cruise to a 55-17 win over the Buffaloes. For his impressive performance, Tuipulotu earned Pac 12 Defensive Player of the Week honors, his second time winning the award this season.
“He’s been so important to what we’ve been doing,” head coach Lincoln Riley said of Tuipulotu. “He’s just been steady, he’s been explosive. I know he doesn’t like to think of himself like this but everybody else in that locker looks to him as a leader by example, and he’s been a really strong leader for this football team and our defense.”
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USC Looking to Finish Strong vs. UCLA and Notre Dame
It has certainly been quite the season for Tuipulotu and the Trojans. However, USC’s two biggest games of the year still lie ahead of them: UCLA at the Rose Bowl this Saturday, and Notre Dame at the Coliseum the following week. While Tulipulotu has dominated against the likes of Colorado and Washington State, ultimately, however, it is how USC players perform against the Bruins and the Irish that defines their Trojan legacies.
If Tuipulotu can continue his domination against the Trojans’ two most-hated rivals, he will cement his status as one of the best defensive lineman to ever play at USC. With the nation’s leader in sacks rapidly rising up NFL Draft boards as he continues to dominate, Trojan fans should cherish every moment that they get to see Tuipulotu suit up in the Cardinal and Gold.
