Jay Tufele

Jayleen Pea Tufele[1] (born July 25, 1999) is an American football nose tackle for the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football at USC.

Jay Tufele
No. 97 – Cincinnati Bengals
Position:Nose tackle
Personal information
Born: (1999-07-25) July 25, 1999
Salt Lake City, Utah, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:305 lb (138 kg)
Career information
High school:Bingham (South Jordan, Utah)
College:USC (2017–2020)
NFL Draft:2021 / Round: 4 / Pick: 106
Career history
Roster status:Active
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of Week 6, 2023
Total tackles:21
Player stats at NFL.com · PFR

Early years

Tufele attended Bingham High School in South Jordan, Utah. As a sophomore in 2014, Tufele started on the varsity team, making 63 tackles and six sacks, which earned him a spot on the MaxPreps Sophomore All-American first-team. As a junior, Tufele anchored a defense that tallied eight shutouts, making 57 tackles and 10.5 sacks on his way to being named the Salt Lake Tribune’s high school football MVP.[2] Tufele did not play his senior year due to a torn ligament in his foot.

Tufele also played rugby in high school.

Recruiting

Tufele was a consensus top-40 recruit and received scholarship offers from over 20 schools, including Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Utah, and USC.[3][4] Tufele announced his commitment to USC on National Signing Day and enrolled in June.[5]

US college sports recruiting information for high school athletes
Name Hometown High school / college Height Weight Commit date
Jay Tufele
DL		 South Jordan, Utah Bingham High School 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m) 297 lb (135 kg) Feb 1, 2017 
Recruiting star ratings: Scout: N/A   Rivals:4/5 stars   247Sports:5/5 stars
Overall recruiting rankings:   Rivals: 4 (DL), 1 (UT)  247Sports: 3 (DL), 1 (UT)
  • Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
  • In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.

Sources:

  • "2017 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. Retrieved April 25, 2020.

College career

Tufele redshirted the 2017 season. As a redshirt freshman in 2018, Tufele appeared in 12 games, starting five times. He made 23 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. In a week eight game against Utah, Tufele returned a fumble 48 yards for a touchdown, making him a nominee for the 2018 Piesman Trophy, which is awarded for the most impressive play made by a lineman.[6] After the season, he was named to the All-Pac-12 second team, won USC’s Defensive Lineman of the Year award, and was a Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year honorable mention.

As a redshirt sophomore in 2019, Tufele started all 13 games and made 41 tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 4.5 sacks, which was the second-most on the team. After the season, Tufele was named to the All-Pac-12 first team, an honorable mention on Phil Steele’s All-American team, and repeated as the Defensive Lineman of the Year for USC.

Statistics
YearGPTacklesFor LossSacksIntFF
2018 12234.5300
2019 13426.54.500
Total2565117.500

Professional career
Pre-draft measurables
HeightWeightArm lengthHand span40-yard dash10-yard split20-yard split20-yard shuttleThree-cone drillVertical jumpBroad jumpBench press
6 ft 2+1⁄8 in
(1.88 m)		 305 lb
(138 kg)		 32+1⁄2 in
(0.83 m)		 9+3⁄8 in
(0.24 m)		5.02 s1.75 s2.94 s4.90 s7.81 s30.0 in
(0.76 m)		8 ft 9 in
(2.67 m)		30 reps
All values from Pro Day[7][8]

Jacksonville Jaguars

Tufele was drafted by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the fourth round, 106th overall, of the 2021 NFL Draft.[9] On May 21, 2021, he signed his four-year rookie contract with Jacksonville.[10] He was placed on injured reserve on October 29, 2021.[11] He was activated on December 4.

On August 30, 2022, Tufele was waived by the Jaguars.[12]

Cincinnati Bengals

On August 31, 2022, Tufele was claimed off waivers by the Cincinnati Bengals.[13]

Personal life

Tufele is of Polynesian descent. His father Line also played football. Tufele has two sisters and two younger brothers.

References
  1. Mellor, Cam (August 19, 2020). "Jay Tufele opts out, declares for 2021 NFL Draft". SB Nation. Retrieved May 3, 2021.
  2. Phibbs, Trevor (December 29, 2015). "Prep football: Bingham's Jay Tufele named 2015 Tribune MVP". Salt Lake Tribune. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  3. "Jay Tufele Recruiting Profile". 247Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  4. "Jay Tufele". Rivals. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  5. "Uay Tufele Timeline Events". 247 Sports. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  6. "The Piesman Trophy: college football's greatest award". Banner Society. August 14, 2019. Retrieved April 25, 2020.
  7. "Jay Tufele Draft and Combine Prospect Profile". NFL.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  8. "Jay Tufele, Southern California, DT, 2021 NFL Draft Scout, NCAA College Football". draftscout.com. Retrieved October 3, 2021.
  9. Oehser, John (May 1, 2021). "No. 106 overall: Tufele is the selection". Jaguars.com. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  10. Links, Zachary (May 21, 2021). "NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/21/21". Pro Football Rumors. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  11. "Roster Moves: OL KC McDermott signed, DT Jay Tufele placed on IR". Jaguars.com. October 29, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  12. "Roster Moves: Jaguars waive 15 from the roster". Jaguars.com. August 30, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  13. "Bengals Roster Moves: Practice Squad Announced". Bengals.com. August 31, 2022. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
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