A drunk-driving arrest in February will cost Nai Fotu a game in September, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham announced Friday.
According to the coach, the defensive lineman/linebacker will be suspended for the Utes’ season opener next Thursday against Montana State.
“He’ll be on the sideline. He’ll be with the team. He will not participate in the game,” Whittingham said according to the Deseret News. “If everything goes smoothly then he’ll be reinstated.”
Whittingham said Fotu has been a model citizen since his arrest and suspension a day later.
“If he had not done it perfect, it would a different situation,” Whittingham said of the steps Fotu had to take to climb out of the doghouse. “He has done everything that we’ve asked to the letter and so that’s where we’re at.”
Fotu missed all of the 2010 season after suffering a torn ACL during spring practice. Prior to that, he had played in 38 games, including nine starts.
