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SALT LAKE CITY — Former University of Utah offensive lineman Isaac Asiata will continue his football career after being selected No. 164 overall Saturday in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
The Spanish Fork native was drafted by the Miami Dolphins, who traded up in the draft to select him. He’s the fourth player drafted from the U. and the second offensive lineman from the school to be drafted in 2017. Former Utah teammate Garett Bolles, who also played on the left side of the offensive line, was selected No. 20 overall Thursday to the Denver Broncos.
At Utah’s Pro Day, Asiata said he wasn’t concerned with where he ended up or what pick he was but that the “most important thing to me is staying” in the league.
Thank you to the @MiamiDolphins organization for making this little Samoan kids Dreams become a Reality. Let's Go To Work. #PhinsUppic.twitter.com/2jtXfNgqzH
— Isaac Asiata (@AsiataFive4) April 29, 2017
Welcome to Miami, Isaac Asiata!#NFLDraftpic.twitter.com/wjJkw4pCmc
— Miami Dolphins (@MiamiDolphins) April 29, 2017
Asiata, the cousin to former Ute and current Minnesota Vikings running back Matt Asiata, played four years at Utah after serving a full-time mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He started his final three seasons at Utah where he was a vital part of the team’s offensive line. Asiata joined the team in 2011, where he redshirted that season before serving a mission and joining the team again in 2013.
Asiata won the Pac-12’s 2016 Morris Award, which is given to top linemen in the conference, and was a two-time all-conference guard. Although he played guard, Asiata is a flexible athlete with the ability to play on either side of the offensive line, at guard and at center.
“I don’t think a lot of 320-pound guys can move the way that I can, which I take a lot of pride in and work really hard at,” Asiata said at Utah’s Pro Day. “Wherever they want to play me, that’s where I want to play.”
As one of eight University of Utah players invited to the NFL Combine, Asiata led the combine in bench press, putting up 35 reps at 225 pounds. He performed in five other drills at the combine. Early draft predictions had Asiata going as high as the second round but as low as the fifth round.
