One of Utah’s top defensive playmakers is entering the NCAA transfer portal.
Defensive tackle Keanu Tanuvasa announced on social media Monday morning that he is entering the portal, with two years of eligibility remaining.
Earlier this offseason, he posted a now-deleted post affirming his commitment to stay at Utah.
Tanuvasa is the second Utah defensive tackle to enter the portal. A week ago, Simote Pepa announced he is headed to Washington.
“First and foremost, I want to give All Glory to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and my Heavenly Father above. I would be where I am today without their protection, blessing, and divine intervention within my life,” Tanuvasa wrote in announcing his decision to enter the transfer portal.
He continued, “I also want to express the utmost gratitude and appreciation to my Utah Family. My time at the University of Utah has been nothing short of everything I dreamed it to be. To my coaches, teammates, trainer and all those behind the scenes; Each of you have helped me to become a great player and even more importantly a good man. I will forever be grateful to have become a Utah Man First before I wear any other jersey — Why? because being a Utah man will continue to shape who I am ‘till the day I die’!
“With that being said, I have high hopes as I have communed with God and found it His will that I enter my name into transfer portal with 2 years of eligibility left.”
What has Keanu Tanuvasa done in his Utah career?
The 6-foot-4, 301-pound Tanuvasa has been a standout on the defensive line for the Utes over the past three seasons, headlined by his 2023 campaign when he started all 13 games at defensive tackle and earned College Football Network Freshman All-American honorable mention honors.
That year, he finished with 27 tackles, six tackles for loss — tied for fourth on the team — and two sacks. His first career forced fumble came in a victory over No. 22 UCLA.
His 2024 season was slowed by injury. He played in seven games, starting six, and had 17 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss and a sack, to go with four pass breakups and two QB hurries.
Tanuvasa will be a junior in 2025.
Keanu Tanuvasa recruitment
Tanuvasa, who hails from Mission Viejo, California, was a three-star prospect coming out of high school, according to 247 Sports.
He was a member of the 2020 recruiting class and served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before enrolling at Utah.
Tanuvasa also received scholarship offers from fellow in-state schools BYU and Utah State, as well as power schools UCLA and Arizona, in addition to offers from Oregon State and Boise State, among others.
