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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah defensive player Pita Taumoepenu was drafted by the San Francisco 49ers Saturday in the NFL Draft.
Taumoepenu was selected No. 202 overall in the sixth round, making it a record eight players drafted from the University of Utah. He becomes the third player from the defensive side of the ball drafted from Utah.
The Tonga native played four years at Utah and was a major disruptor to opposing offenses. He finished his career with 21.5 sacks, which is fifth-most all-time at Utah. In his senior season, Taumoepenu was named an honorable mention All-Pac-12 player while only starting in six games.
He finished with 73 career tackles, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery. He had 41 total tackles his senior year, nine sacks, three forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.
Taumoepenu was one of eight players invited to participate in the NFL Combine where he was a top performer in one of the six drills he participated in. With Taumoepenu being drafted, all eight players invited to the combine were drafted.
