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Lowell Lotulelei and Filipo Mokofisi, Utah's imposing senior defensive line duo, on their friendship and what comes next

(Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah's Filipo Mokofisi and Lowell Lotulelei pose for a portrait at the Eccles Football Center Tuesday, November 21, 2017.

Filipo Mokofisi not only was an outside linebacker five years ago, but also a high school tight end.

So when he made his official visit to Utah — the school that his father, Filipo Mokofisi Sr., once starred at himself — the versatile Woods Cross High star remembers bumping into a guy he’d only heard and read about.

On that day five years ago, he met Lowell Lotulelei. And he still shakes his head recalling their first encounter.

Mokofisi told himself the Utes could use another Lotulelei from Bingham on the defensive line for the next few seasons. Lowell’s brother Star, of course, starred for Utah before being drafted by the Carolina Panthers and launching a stellar NFL career.

“He was pretty big,” Mokofisi said about his new acquaintance. “He is a big kid.”

Little did he know then that he, too, soon would be bulking up, ditching that tight-end frame for that of a bruising defensive tackle, eventually landing next to Lotulelei and starring on a defensive line known as one of the most physically imposing in college football.

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Two of the best defensive tackles Utah ever has produced will be part of the group of 22 seniors who will be honored Saturday in front of the Rice-Eccles Stadium faithful one last time. They do so now as best friends, as guys able to plop some of the largest offensive linemen on their backs, as guys who, when not eating up run blocks, enjoy out-dueling one another in video games.

Both are viewed as NFL prospects, although neither are too keen on discussing the matter at the moment.

“It’s a friendship that will last for a long time,” Lotulelei said. “It’s something I just cherish because it’s something different when you play with someone on the field because you’ve got to be able to trust each other.”

Maybe the the mightiest testament to their friendship — plus their abilities and accomplishments on the field — is by asking around. Lotulelei, at 6 foot 3, 320 pounds, and Mokofisi, at 6-4, 295, aren’t interchangeable, but the poll results are telling enough.

“Man,” Lotulelei said, “I think we’re really different.”

“I think they’re similar,” sophomore defensive end Bradlee Anae said.

“They’re different,” freshman defensive tackle Pita Tonga said.

“We’re big little kids,” Mokofisi said.

(Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune) Utah Utes defensive tackle Lowell Lotulelei (93) and Utah Utes defensive tackle Filipo Mokofisi (45) leap up after a pass by San Jose State Spartans quarterback Montel Aaron (7) as the Utah Utes host the San Jose State Spartans, NCAA football at Rice-Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake City, Saturday September 16, 2017.

As Utah coach Kyle Whittingham explains, beyond the portfolio they’ve developed during their careers, the two were voted as senior team captains this season.

“You really don’t know what you’ve got in leaders until times get tough,” Whittingham said, “and we’ve had some tough times this year. And those guys have stepped up and answered the bell and just been invaluable for our team.”

Mokofisi, Whittingham said, is the more vocal of the two, the one who will speak up when he sees he must. Lotulelei, meanwhile, is more of a “quiet leader.” But ask some of the younger defensive linemen on the team, and some will concur with their coach, while others differ.

“They’re both serious when it’s time to be serious and very playful when they’re in their own element,” Anae said. “Just those two older brothers like that.”

Tonga said it’s Mokofisi who tends to be the more quiet of the two, while Lotulelei does his fair share of calling out.

“It’s more that they just complement each other,” Tonga said.

And they’ve complemented for the past four years a Utah defensive line that annually churns out NFL talent. The two linemen have combined for 95 appearances, 204 total tackles, 36.5 tackles-for-loss and 18 sacks since their freshman seasons in 2014.

Saturday’s regular-season finale against Colorado allows the 22 seniors an opportunity to snatch one more win, which in turn would allow them to have one more game in Utah red. Lotulelei said he’s so driven to win Saturday that he’s viewing the potential bowl game at his real senior day. With such storied careers nearing the end, do the friends feel like they’ve accomplished what they set out to five years ago?

Lotulelei: “In my head, the picture of a good football player is someone who does what he needs to do to help the team win, and I think that was really my only goal coming in here. And I think if you have that mindset, everything else takes care of itself. Whatever it is. If it’s NFL or just life in general. I think being a team player is what helped me, made me feel like I came here and helped the team out.”

Mokofisi: “You know, I’ve done the best that I can. I know that could’ve done better, but you can’t have any regrets, so I feel like I’ve done what I needed to do, and hopefully it’s enough.”

Tonga said the duo has helped lay the foundation for the four young defensive tackles who will be asked to rise whenever Lotulelei and Mokofisi take off their Utah helmets for the last time. Like the pair, Tonga (Highland), sophomore Leki Fotu (Herriman), John Penisini (West Jordan) and Hauati Pututau (Cottonwood) are all Utah prep products.

“What better people for us to listen to and to learn from and the legacy they left behind?” Tonga said. “We just want to do our best to continue that.”

Anae already is dreading that final game when he lines up next to either Lotulelei or Mokofisi on the outside.

“Next year,” he said, “it’ll just be a bunch of fresh-legged guys, just running around, just trying to make a name for ourselves.”

UTAH’S DAUNTING DEFENSIVE TACKLES <br>Lowell Lotulelei • Senior, Bingham High, 6 foot 3, 320 pounds <br>Filipo Mokofisi • Senior, Woods Cross High, 6-4, 295 pounds <br>Combined stats since both became starters in 2014 • 95 games, 204 total tackles, 36.5tackles-for-loss and 18 sacks.