Utah reserve linebacker entering transfer portal
Utah linebacker Andrew Mata’afa is entering the transfer portal and leaving the Utes’ program after five seasons and 38 total appearances.
Mata’afa shared the news on Twitter on Tuesday. He’ll have one year of eligibility at his next stop after redshirting during the 2018 season.
https://twitter.com/andrew_mataafa/status/1615407476891062274?s=20&t=LBoqJWpY7Ac0_u3dWPANqQ
A 6-foot-3, 221-pound linebacker from San Diego, California, Mata’afa joined the Utes as a 3-star recruit out of the 2018 class. He was the 50th-ranked outside linebacker prospect at that time, and picked Utah over Vanderbilt and Washington State, among others.
In five seasons with the program, he played in a fair number of games but only ever as a reserve. He made his first career start during the 2022 season against San Diego State.
In 2019, he made seven appearances and totaled five tackles. He played in all five of Utah’s games the following year, making three tackles exclusively on special teams.
He’s played in 13 of 14 games during each of the last two seasons, combining for 13 tackles, one pass breakup, and an assisted tackle for loss. Mata’afa departs Salt Lake City with 21 career tackles and two career pass breakups.
Utah’s linebacker room is in good shape heading into the 2023 year, with experience, potential, and good depth.
Karene Reid and Lander Barton return after featured roles in the 2022 defense. Barton’s classmate, Justin Medlock, will look to take a step in his second year with the program. The Utes also dipped into the transfer portal to nab former Stanford standout Levani Damuni.