A couple of local kids will be playing their home games in Inglewood.
The Chargers selected former USC defensive end Tuli Tuipulotu in the second round of the NFL draft on Friday night, using the 54th selection on the former Trojan.
And in doing so, the Chargers guaranteed that Tuipulotu will stay close to his roots in Hawthorne and at Lawndale High.
“I’m happy for sure,” Tuipulotu said. “I haven’t left L.A. for most of my life so I was kinda preparing myself to go somewhere far, East Coast, something like that. But I’m happy to stay home, be close to family.”
Tuipulotu was a three-year starter at USC and a two-time first-team All-Pac-12 selection, the first honor coming as a sophomore. But he elevated his game as a junior, leading the nation with 13½ sacks and recording 46 tackles and 22 for loss.
The performance led to Tuipulotu being named Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year in 2022 and a consensus first-team All-American. He credited his growth as a junior to USC’s new defensive line coach, Shaun Nua.
“He prepared me very well throughout that season,” Tuipulotu said. “There’s a big jump from my sophomore year to my junior year and a big reason for that was my coach, Nua.”
Tuipulotu is the second USC player selected this year, following wide receiver Jordan Addison’s selection by the Minnesota Vikings in the first round.
The Chargers showed an early interest in Tuipulotu, with a scout in January making the first contact of any NFL team after the Trojan declared for the draft. He went to the team’s local pro day and had a Zoom meeting with the Chargers two weeks later.
The 6-foot-4, 266-pound Tuipulotu provides needed depth at defensive end for the Chargers. The team already has Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack in place, but Tuipulotu will have the opportunity to learn from two decorated edge rushers while being a necessary reinforcement behind them.
“Coming into the league, that’s what I wanted,” Tuipulotu, 20, said. “I wanted the best to learn from, and man, Joey Bosa and Khalil, that’s crazy. So I’m excited for the opportunity. I’m a sponge so I’m going to absorb all the info they give me and just try to get better.”
Despite having a strong trio with Mack, Bosa and safety Derwin James, the Chargers were ranked 20th in total defense, 21st in points allowed per game and the fifth worst against the run last season.
Tuipulotu should give the Chargers more versatility up front after moving around the defensive line for USC and even moving back to a blitzing linebacker at times for the Trojans.
“He has a lot of the characteristics that we think translate to playing championship defense,” Chargers coach Brandon Staley said. “He’s really tough and rugged at the point of attack. He can rush from the outside and from the inside. He has versatility that way. He has the play style that we’re really attracted to.”
The Chargers continued to add to the defense in the third round and again stayed local, selecting Washington State linebacker Daiyan Henley with the 85th overall pick.
A Los Angeles native, Henley attended Crenshaw High prior to spending the first five years of his collegiate career at Nevada. He transferred to Washington State as a redshirt season and recorded 106 tackles to go with four sacks, one interception and three forced fumbles. The 6-foot-2 Henley excelled in rushing defense, with 40 run stops.
Tom Telesco, who is handling his 11th draft as the Chargers’ general manager, and Staley both said Henley’s biggest impact this season might come on special teams, where he played on all four units.
“I think he’s got a lot of ability, but there’s a lot to see and learn in the pro game for an inside linebacker,” Staley said. “We think he’s got a lot of good things to work with and I think he really upgrades our athleticism at that position.”
Henley was named to the All-Pac-12 first team and the All-America second team by College Football News.
“Those two guys really took advantage of their opportunity in that (team pro day) setting,” said Staley, who is going into his third season as the Chargers’ coach. “I’m from Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, which is a special place for football, but Southern California has taken it to a different level.”
The Chargers, who drafted TCU wide receiver Quentin Johnston in the first round, have four selections on Saturday, one in each round.
CHARGERS PICK UP HERBERT’S OPTION, DECLINE MURRAY’S
The Chargers officially exercised their fifth-year option on Justin Herbert on Friday as they work toward signing their franchise quarterback to a long-term deal.
Meanwhile, Telesco said the Chargers would not be picking up the option for linebacker Kenneth Murray.
The deadline for teams to pick up the fifth-year option on first-round picks from the 2020 draft class is Tuesday.
Herbert, the sixth overall selection in that draft, is the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for at least 4,000 yards in each of his first three seasons. Since entering the league, he is second in completions (1,316), third in passing yards (14,089) and sixth in passing touchdowns (94).
By virtue of being selected to the Pro Bowl in 2021, Herbert’s fifth-year option is worth $29.5 million, the same as Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow, who was the top pick in 2020. Miami’s Tua Tagovailoa, who went one pick before Herbert, also had his option picked up at $23.17 million.
Herbert, who led the Chargers to their first playoff appearance since 2018 last season, was second in the league in completions (477) and passing yards (4,739) despite suffering a rib injury in Week 2 and then a torn labrum in his left, non-throwing shoulder in Week 17. He had surgery on the shoulder in late January and is expected to be ready for the start of training camp.
Murray’s option would have been worth $11.73 million. Telesco said not picking up the option was more of a salary cap decision. With Herbert expected to sign a large extension at some point, the Bolts also have large contracts with receivers Keenan Allen and Mike Williams as well as linebackers Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. Excluding Herbert, the other four players have a salary cap number of at least $32 million each in 2024.
The Chargers traded with New England to move up into the first round to take Murray with the 23rd overall selection in 2020.
The Associated Pres contributed to this story.
