Utah Football: Top 5 spring 2019 breakout candidates

SALT LAKE CITY, UT - NOVEMBER 24: Dayan Ghanwoloku #5 of the Brigham Young Cougars tackles the leaping TJ Green #4 of the Utah Utes in the second half of a game at Rice-Eccles Stadium on November 24, 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah. (Photo by Gene Sweeney Jr/Getty Images) /

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BOULDER, CO – NOVEMBER 17: Quarterback Steven Montez #12 of the Colorado Buffaloes is is sacked by Maxs Tupai #92, Leki Fotu #99 and John Penisini #52 of the Utah Utes in the fourth quarter at Folsom Field on November 17, 2018 in Boulder, Colorado. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

Yes, another defensive end has made the list as junior Maxs Tupai has been widely considered a breakout candidate, dating back to last season.

As a redshirt sophomore, Tupai finished with 32 tackles, six tackles for loss and three sacks and on most other teams, he would be a starter, but he’s sitting behind Bradlee Anae. He could, however, split starting snaps with Mika Tafua on the other end.

Similar to Tafua, Tupai had his first big season in 2018 and set himself up for a breakout campaign in 2019. Unlike Tafua, the junior is playing the position he was recruited at and has a strong 6-2, 240-pound frame which could get him into a starting role sooner rather than later.

Utah’s defense is going to continue to improve with guys like this popping up on the depth chart and rising along the way. He hasn’t quite reached his potential yet, but this spring gives him a major opportunity for that to happen and it’ll be a shock if he doesn’t push for starting snaps as a junior.

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