Vai Lutui
Bio
Career: 2011 – 2012
Position: Defensive Tackle
Height: 6’2”
Weight: 299
Hometown: Salt Lake City, Utah
High School: West High School
JuCo: Mt. San Antionio
Career Stats
Games Played: 26
Games Started: 24
Tackles: 43
Tackles For Loss: 7.5
Sacks: 2
Passes Knocked Down: 4
Notes
High School
- 3 Year Letter Winner
- Played Quarterback, Linebacker, and Defensive Line
- Team MVP and Utah All-State selection in 2005 as a senior
Mt. San Antonio
- 2010
- 13-0 Juco National Champions
- Put up 63 tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 12 sacks
Kansas State
- 2011
- Started 11 of 13 games
- Second most tackles by a defensive lineman (34)
- 2012
- Started 13 of 13 games
- 23 Tackles, 5 Tackles for Loss, 1 Sack
K-State Career Awards
2012: Second Team All-Big 12
Highlights
Bring on the Cats Staff
Drew:
#92 was tough. The difference between Lutui and Eli Huggins is negligible. I gave the nod to Vai because he was named 2nd Team All-Big 12 on one of the best teams in Kansas State history.
Vai was another Coach Snyder JUCO special, much like fellow defensive tackle and junior college product John Sua. Every good defense is tough straight up the middle, and Lutui and Sua provided the Wildcats with the toughness on the interior that allowed the ends and linebackers to wreak havoc in the opposing backfield. Defensive tackles do the thankless, and often stat-less, dirty work, while everyone around them on the defense benefits.
I mention John Sua in this piece not only because they helped form the backbone of the 2010 defense, but because Vai’s life, like John’s, was cut short in its prime. Vaikalafi Lutui Jr. passed away on January 16th, 2021, due to complications from Covid 19 (link to announcement).
Two of the biggest, toughest dudes on the 2012 Kansas State defense passed away in their early 30’s. That’s tough to wrap my brain around. Maybe give your loved ones an extra hug tonight.
