Reports: Utah Defensive End Maxs Tupai Returns To Team

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – As expected, Utah defensive end Maxs Tupai has returned to the team after an absence during spring football.

This is according to sports.ksl.com’s Tom Hackett’s sources.

Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham announced at the beginning of spring football practices in March that Tupai would not be participating in spring due to personal reasons.

.@Utah_Football head coach Kyle Whittingham has suspended LB Sione Lund and WR Donte Banton indefinitely.

"Whether they get reinstated or not will be determined at a later time."

Maxs Tupai will not participate in spring ball due to personal reasons.#GoUtes pic.twitter.com/NKDekcJYe9

— KSL Sports (@kslsports) March 3, 2020

Tupai was sharing reps at defensive end with Mika Tafua on the opposite side of Bradlee Anae. Now that Anae is off to the NFL, Tupai and Tafua are expected to start at defensive end for the Utes in 2020.

Tupai will be a senior this season after playing for Murray High School. Last season, Tupai played in all 14 games while starting against Arizona State. He piled up 21 tackles, 3.5 tackles for loss and one sack.

Utah officially re-opened their athletic facilities on Monday for voluntary workouts.

Trevor Allen is a Utah Utes Insider for sports.ksl.com and host of the Crimson Corner podcast. Follow him on Twitter: @TrevorASports. You can download and listen to the podcast, here.