DE Rankings: Zion Tupuola-Fetui

August 15, 2022 CFB Saturdays Staff

As we review the DE rankings, players have had the opportunity to raise their stock and move up the rankings. Before we jump into Zion Tupuola-Fetui, here’s a few reminders about the rankings themselves:

The rankings will be updated throughout the season.
Players who have not played college football are not eligible for the rankings.
Players are graded on their college ability, not their pro potential.
We are judging players on their film, production and physical tools.

You can view the College Football DE Rankings here.

Washington defensive end, Zion Tupuola-Fetui had a big year in 2020, but suffered a major injury in the following off-season. Tupuola-Fetui missed the start of the 2021 season and only played in five games, in those games he did not appear to be his former self. In 2020, he totaled 13 tackles, 7 sacks, 3 fumbles forced and 1 pass breakup in the shortened four game Pac-12 season. Tupuola-Fetui has had a full off-season to recover and should be ready to put together a great 2022 season.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qi2WVh_IKPs

At 6’3″ 280 lbs, Tupuola-Fetui is violent off the edge. He plays with power and ferociousness, bullying blockers and knocking them off balance to gain the advantage. He has strong hands that help him to control the offensive lineman and disengage efficiently. Tupuola-Fetui also has the quickness and explosive ability to get around the edge and close on the quarterback. This combination of power and quickness give him a menacing set of physical skills that help him to be a game changing player off the edge.

While Tupuola-Fetui has impressive physical tools, he has also displayed an array of pass rush moves to get to the quarterback. He has an effective bull-rush and speed-rush off the end that allow him to setup his counter moves. Tupuola-Fetui features an effective spin move and counters well with an inside rip or inside swim move. The ability to use an array of pass rush moves allows Tupuola-Fetui to keep blockers off balance, helping him capitalize on his strength and quickness more often. He shows a good feel for pass rushing and understands when to use which tools to reach the quarterback.

Zion Tupuola-Fetui is a fearsome pass rusher, who can beat blockers with power and speed. He has an array of pass-rush moves that allow him to get to the quarterback at a high rate. Tupuola-Fetui has had time to fully heal and should return to his 2020 form in 2022. That is a scary proposition for opponents, as he is one of the best pass rushers in college football.

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