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Utah Utes football: Linebacker Nai Fotu suspended after arrest

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By Dirk Facer, Deseret News

Published: Monday, Feb. 21 2011 2:58 p.m. MST

Nai Fotu

Steve C Wilson

Enlarge photo»

Summary

Utah linebacker Nai Fotu, who was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Sunday morning for investigation of driving under the influence, has been suspended by coach Kyle Whittingham. His future with the Utes is unclear after Whittingham released a statement on Monday.

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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah linebacker Nai Fotu, who was booked into the Salt Lake County Jail Sunday morning for investigation of driving under the influence, has been suspended by coach Kyle Whittingham. His future with the Utes is unclear after Whittingham released a statement on Monday.

"Effective immediately, Nai Fotu has been suspended from our football team until further notice," Whittingham said.

According to the Utah Highway Patrol, Fotu was pulled over Sunday about 2 a.m. after troopers spotted his 2002 Ford Explorer driving the wrong way on SR-201. Fotu failed his field sobriety test, including blowing a .218 on his breath test, nearly three times the legal limit, according to the UHP.

Fotu was arrested and booked into the Salt Lake County Jail for investigation of DUI, having an open container, driving the wrong way and not having a valid license.

Utah begins spring practices on March 8 and Fotu was expected to compete for a starting job. The senior, who has also seen action on the defensive line, missed all of last season while recovering from a knee injury. In 38 career games with the Utes, Fotu is credited with 69 tackles (37 solo), 12.5 tackles-for-loss and six sacks. The 6-foot, 235-pounder has made nine starts.

e-mail: dirk@desnews.com

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Featured Comments

See all 53 comments »
TJ
Eagle Mountain, UT

hedgie
The DNews usually gets the story right.
the hedgehogs usually slap together pieces of incomplete tidbits of information to make their incomplete and obsession fueled points.

The Media as a whole prints additial facts.
More..

  • 2:53 p.m. Feb. 21, 2011
  • Top comment
TJ
Eagle Mountain, UT

Good move coach. This can only be a good thing for the Ute players to know that this is not tolerated there.

  • 1:03 p.m. Feb. 21, 2011
  • Top comment
BigSportsFan!!
ogden, ut

@hedgehog

Why do you keep bashing the D-News?

I find info on D-News that is not found at the other paper all the time. Both papers do a good job but they both choose what they want to cover and to what extent.

  • 1:59 p.m. Feb. 21, 2011
  • Top comment
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About the Author
Dirk Facer

Dirk Facer

Dirk Facer covers University of Utah sports for the Deseret News.

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