Utah Football DT Sione Motuapuaka Focused On Getting Better Every Day

Apr 15, 2025, 3:05 PM | Updated: 3:08 pm

Utah football freshman defensive tackle Sione Motuapuaka has embraced the culture at Utah....

Utah football DT Sione Motuapuaka. Photo courtesy of Utah Athletics.

Utah Insider

SALT LAKE CITY—Utah football’s defensive tackle room has gone through a bit of a makeover this offseason. There are openings for guys to step up, and true freshman Sione Motuapuaka is doing all he can to make an impact.

The true freshman defensive tackle came signed with Utah as part of the 2025 class and enrolled in January.

After a couple of weeks of spring ball, Motuapuaka has grown to appreciate his decision and the daily grind.

D-*fence emoji* (pretend that a fence emoji exists) pic.twitter.com/FUcCH2IRbh

— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 9, 2025

It’s about ‘attacking the problem’ for Sione Motupauaka

“The culture is ‘attacking the problem’—that’s RSNB—and for us, the problem is the ball,” Motupuaka said. “I’ve had a lot of learning curves and stuff, but at the end of the day, we’re just attacking the problem and working to grow.”

And the best crash course for attacking the problem? Going up against Utah’s veteran offensive line—guys like Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, and Jaren Kump. For Motuapuaka, it’s not just iron sharpening iron; it’s a full-on trial by fire.

“Man, honestly, it’s been fun,” he said. “Going against guys like Spencer Fano, Caleb Lomu, Jaren Kump, Ike [Garcia], you know, all those guys. It’s just crazy, man. There’s a big difference from high school, but I just come here and fight every day.”

Motuapuaka is enjoying his decision to enroll early

Most high schoolers are counting down to prom and senior ditch day, Motuapuaka skipped all of that to get a jumpstart on his college career—a trade-off he doesn’t regret.

“Honestly, it’s been a big blessing; I miss out on the fun things as a senior, I think coming here, I get a step ahead of all the other boys that come later in the summer,” he said.

By enrolling early, he’s already battling for a spot in the rotation. Motuapuaka acknowledged there’s an adjustment, but coming from a top program, Bishop Gorman helped him adjust to the collegiate level.

“I came in, and there’s not much of a difference—I mean, the strength and speed of the game is way different, but I feel like it gave me an edge to adapt to the schedule and competitiveness,” Motuapuaka shared.

The competition in the defensive tackle room has been a positive

Motuapuaka is going head-to-head with fellow early enrollee Karson Kaufusi. With limited experience but no shortage of confidence, he’s made it clear: he’s not here to sit and learn slowly—he’s here to work and keep improving.

“It’s been crazy but honestly a blessing,” Motuapuaka said. “I’m just trying to do my part, you know, competing with Karson. I’m just trying to do better than I did the day before.”

With the final week of spring ball approaching, the freshman is focused on consistency, development, and doing what he came to Salt Lake City to do—getting better.

“My goal is just to get better every day,” he said. “Every day is always gonna be harder than the day before, so I’ve just got to stay disciplined and work hard every day. Just trying to be more consistent in everything I do, always moving forward, never backward.”