Star Lotulelei was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
35 Facts About Star Lotulelei
2.
Star Lotulelei played college football at University of Utah, and shared the Morris Trophy for the best lineman in the Pac-12 Conference.
3.
Star Lotulelei registered 72 tackles and seven sacks as a senior.
4.
Star Lotulelei, too, failed to qualify academically for his original school of choice, Brigham Young University.
5.
Star Lotulelei eventually spent what would have been his freshman season delivering furniture for a store in Salt Lake City.
6.
Now far over 300 pounds, Star Lotulelei played defensive line for the Badgers alongside James Aiono, and recorded 52 tackles with 14 TFL, three sacks and one forced fumble in 2008.
7.
Star Lotulelei took the 2009 season off to preserve another year of college eligibility.
8.
Star Lotulelei was still recruited by BYU, but Oregon State, Utah State, and Utah.
9.
In 2010, Lotulelei transferred to the University of Utah, and played in all 13 games for the Utah Utes football team, and became a starter for the final three games of the season.
10.
Star Lotulelei totaled 21 tackles with 2.5 tackles for a loss, and was credited for a half quarterback sack, which came against San Jose State in arguably his best game of the season.
11.
Star Lotulelei started all 13 games, and registered 44 tackles, 1.5 sacks, one pass breakup, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery.
12.
Star Lotulelei made six tackles and recovered a fumble and was awarded the Jimmy Rogers, Jr.
13.
Star Lotulelei recorded 42 tackles included a team-high 11 tackles for loss and 5.0 sacks, while having four pass breakups, four fumble recoveries and three forced fumbles.
14.
Star Lotulelei blocked a 51-yard field goal attempt with 1 second remaining following a third-down incompletion.
15.
Forgoing the chance of a professional career in 2012, Star Lotulelei decided to return to Utah after the 2011 season.
16.
In preseason mock drafts from May 2012, Star Lotulelei was listed as a late first-rounder for the 2013 NFL Draft as well.
17.
Star Lotulelei was declared ineligible to participate in the 2013 NFL Scouting Combine after an echocardiogram revealed an abnormally low ejection fraction.
18.
Star Lotulelei reportedly "looked strong in all the position drills," and registered 38 repetitions in the 225-pound bench press, which would have tied him with Margus Hunt and Brandon Williams for the top mark at the combine.
19.
Star Lotulelei was drafted in the first round, 14th overall by the Carolina Panthers, as the second defensive tackle selected after Sheldon Richardson.
20.
On May 22,2013, Star Lotulelei signed a four-year $9.60 million deal.
21.
Star Lotulelei was named the starting defensive tackle in the 2013 season.
22.
On September 3,2013, Star Lotulelei changed his jersey number from 96, to 98.
23.
Star Lotulelei had his first NFL career sack against the New York Giants.
24.
Star Lotulelei was named to the All-Rookie teams by ESPN, ProFootballFocus, and SB Nation Lotulelei finished 4th in AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting.
25.
Star Lotulelei picked up from his strong rookie performance in his debut against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers where he recorded 1 quarterback hit, 2 quarterback hurries, and 1 tackle.
26.
Star Lotulelei had 22 tackles, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery, and 2 passes defensed on the season.
27.
On February 7,2016, Star Lotulelei was part of the Panthers team that played in Super Bowl 50.
28.
Star Lotulelei recovered the fumble and set the Panthers up for an eventual touchdown scoring drive.
29.
On March 13,2018, Star Lotulelei agreed to a five-year deal worth $50 million with the Buffalo Bills.
30.
Two weeks later against the Dallas Cowboys on Thanksgiving Day, Star Lotulelei recorded his first NFL interception, picking off a screen pass from Dak Prescott and then blocking a field goal in the same game.
31.
On July 28,2020, Star Lotulelei announced he was opting out of the 2020 season due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
32.
Star Lotulelei was placed back on the active roster on August 27,2021.
33.
On March 18,2022, Star Lotulelei was released by the Bills.
34.
Star Lotulelei's father, Sitaliti, is a Mormon seminary teacher and has a doctorate from Brigham Young University.
35.
Star Lotulelei is a cousin of former AAF linebacker John Star Lotulelei and brother-in-law to rugby league player Fuifui Moimoi.