Deuce Lutui

Deuce Lutui

Lutui in September 2009.
No. 76     Arizona Cardinals
Guard
Personal information
Date of birth: May 5, 1983 (1983-05-05) (age 28)
Place of birth: Haʻapai
Height: 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)	Weight: 338 lb (153 kg)
Career information
College: USC
NFL Draft: 2006 / Round: 2 / Pick: 41
Debuted in 2006 for the Arizona Cardinals
Career history
Arizona Cardinals (2006–Present)
Roster status: Active
Career highlights and awards
All-State, All-Region and All-Conference selection. (2001) Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, Long Beach Press-Telegram Best of the Rest, All-State, All-Region and All-Conference selection. (2002) J.C. Grid-Wire All-American first team, National Junior College Athletic Association All-American first team, Super Prep JUCO 100 and All-Western States Football League first team selection (2003)
Career NFL statistics as of Week 17, 2010
Games played	78
Games started	72
Fumble recoveries	0
Stats at NFL.com

Taitusi "Deuce" Lutui (born May 5, 1983) is a Tongan-born American athlete who currently plays professional American football for the Arizona Cardinals of the National Football League (NFL). His position is offensive lineman. He played college football for the University of Southern California Trojans and was drafted by the Cardinals in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft.The Cincinnati Bengals signed him to a two-year deal on July 29, 2011. On July 31, 2011, Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic revealed that Lutui failed his physical with the Bengals, and had resigned with the Arizona Cardinals for 1 year. One of several Tongans currently in the NFL, he is a cousin of Vai Sikahema, the first Tongan ever to play in the NFL.

Early life

Lutui was born in Haʻapai in the Pacific island nation of Tonga. One of six siblings, he is a younger cousin of Vai Sikahema, who became the first Tongan to play in the National Football League when he joined the Arizona Cardinals as a kick returner in 1986.^[1] When Lutui was a few months old, his father, Inoke Lutui, moved the family to the United States, settling in Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.^[2] When he was six years old, Lutui survived a car accident that killed one of his sisters and left his father permanently disabled. As a teenager, Lutui had to work to support his family.^[3]

Lutui attended Mesa High School, where he played two-way lineman for the school's football team.^[4] In 2001, he was named Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, All-State, all-region and all-conference as a two-way lineman for Mesa High School.^[4]

After high school Lutui signed with the University of Southern California (USC) to play for the USC Trojans football team. However, failed to qualify for admission to the school. Instead, he spent a year at Mesa Community College, where he played for the school's football team. He then transferred to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, where he received a number of junior college football honors. By 2004, he had improved his grades enough to enroll at USC.^[3]

College career.

Lutui also known as "Titus" in High School was an All-America guard on the University of Southern California Trojans. At 370 pounds, he was the heaviest USC Trojans player of all-time.

Professional career

Lutui was selected in the second round (41st overall) of the 2006 NFL draft by the Arizona Cardinals, where he is reunited with former USC teammate Matt Leinart. As a rookie, Lutui started 9 games. In 2007, he started 15 games. In 2008, he started 16 games while the Cardinals won the NFC west with a 9-7 record and was part of an offensive line that allowed Cardinals QB Kurt Warner to break single season records in completions & TD passes. They then had a surprising playoff run getting to Super Bowl XLIII. During the Super Bowl, the Pittsburgh Steelers's offensive line featured Chris Kemoeatu, the other Tongan in the NFL.^[1] In 2009, he started 16 games as the Cardinals once again became NFC West champions with a 10-6 record.

Personal life

Lutui is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. ^[5] He is also an Eagle Scout.^[6] In 2004 he married the former Puanani Heimuli; they have four children.^[3][4]

On July 2, 2010, Lutui became a naturalized citizen of the United States.^[7]

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "Tongan pair join Big Ben centre stage". The Australian. Agence France-Presse. February 2, 2009. http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/tongan-pair-join-big-ben-centre-stage/story-e6frg7mo-1111118726604. Retrieved November 23, 2010. 
2. ^ Somers, Kent (July 1, 2010). "Arizona Cardinals' Deuce Lutui ready to become U.S. citizen". The Arizona Republic. http://www.azcentral.com/sports/cardinals/articles/2010/07/01/20100701cardinals-deuce-lutui-ready-to-become-citizen.html#ixzz167HvnnIu. Retrieved November 23, 2010. 
3. ^ ^{a b c} "Taitusi Lutui". www.usctrojans.com. University of Southern California. 2005. http://www.usctrojans.com/sports/m-footbl/mtt/lutui_taitusi00.html. Retrieved November 23, 2010. 
4. ^ ^{a b c} "Player Roster: Lutui, Taitusi". www.azcardinals.com. Arizona Cardinals. 2010. http://www.azcardinals.com/team/roster/Deuce-Lutui/20aa4fa4-91c9-4a1e-aca1-312f6a019558. Retrieved November 23, 2010. 
5. ^ "Updated list of LDS Church members in NFL". Mormon Times. September 13, 2008. http://www.mormontimes.com/article/10401/Updated-list-of-LDS-Church-members-in-NFL. Retrieved November 23, 2010. 
6. ^ "Eagle Scout Lines Up for Super Bowl XLIII". Scouting News. http://www.scoutingnews.org/2009/01/28/eagle-scout-super-bowl-xliii/. Retrieved January 29, 2009. 
7. ^ "Cards' Lutui sworn in as U.S. citizen". ESPN.com. http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=5350600. Retrieved July 4, 2010.