Tonga isn’t the first place you think of when considering NFL stars but that’s exactly where Starlite (Star) Lotulelei was born and lived, until he moved to Utah at the age of nine. Had he not moved halfway across the world, it’s unlikely he’d ever have even played football, let alone had a successful career. Let’s take a look at what we’ve seen from Lotulelei so far.
The high school years
Though he wouldn’t have been included on NFL betting lines in high school, Star Lotulelei’s early football days were a sign of things to come. He attended Bingham High School in South Jordan and played as a defensive lineman. In this role, he helped his team achieve the 2006 state title, registering seven sacks and 72 tackles in his senior year.
His recruiting star ratings were promising and he was listed as a three-star recruit by Rivals, Scout and 247Sports. ESPN graded him 67. Overall, he was the No. 3 prospect for the state, but Cottonwood High School’s Simione Fili was regarded as the best defensive lineman.
College football
When it came to college football, Star Lotulelei initially failed to qualify for his first choice, which was Brigham Young University. In what should have been his freshman year, he worked as a furniture deliveryman for a Salt Lake City store.
A year later, he went to Ephraim, Utah, and enrolled at Snow College. At this point, he weighed over 300 pounds. He played for the Badgers in the defensive line and recorded three sacks, one forced fumble and 52 tackles in 2008. The college team managed to reach the NJCAA National Championship game but lost to Butler Community College 37-30 in double-overtime.
Lotulelei didn’t play in 2009 but in 2010, he transferred to the University of Utah where he joined the Utah Utes football team. He was a starter for the three final games that season. In total, he achieved 21 tackles. As well as defensive line, he also appeared as offensive guard on a number of occasions.
From 2011, he was a regular starter. He was regarded as the best defensive lineman in the league, winning the Morris Trophy. With 44 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and 1.5 sacks under his belt, it was clear that he was going places. He returned and played in all the games of the following season in his senior year.
Lotulelei’s professional football career
Star Lotulelei appeared in his first NFL draft in 2013. By mid-season, he was in the top three, and at the conclusion of the season, he was projected to be chosen in the first five. This hadn’t been seen of a defensive lineman from Utah since 1995, with Luther Elliss. This positioning was largely down to Lotulelei’s quickness, athleticism, snap count anticipation and power, that made for a rare combination.
However, Lotulelei was unable to participate in the Scouting Combine in 2013 due to a problem with his heart. An echocardiogram revealed his left ventricle was only pumping at 44%. However, this was later found to be caused by a viral infection, which meant he was cleared to play. However, it still had a knock-on effect on his draft prospects. He did move up to the fourth spot a week before, however.
From rookie to the Buffalo Bills
In 2013, Lotulelei signed a $9.6m deal with the Carolina Panthers as their second defensive tackle. His first career sack came against the New York Giants the same year. This rookie year saw him start all 16 games and he recorded three sacks, 23 quarterback pressures and 42 tackles. The Carolina Panthers finished first that season for sacks, second for points per game and third for team defense.
After a successful five-year stint with the Panthers, Star Lotulelei signed a five-year, $50m contract with the Buffalo Bills in 2018. His first season saw him being used as a run-stopping/0-tech tackle but by 2019, he had recorded his first sack.
The Covid-19 pandemic saw Lotulelei opt out, though he did play again in 2021. However, in March 2022, the Bills released him.
What’s next for Star Lotulelei?
Lotulelei hasn’t played NFL for a couple of seasons now, so it remains to be seen whether he’ll return to the sport any time soon. In his personal life, however, he is married to Fuiva, who is a former volleyball player. The couple met at Snow College. They have two daughters, Arilani and Pesatina, who were born in 2009 and 2011 respectively.
