#8

Hale Motu'apuaka

DT · Utah State · Sr. · #8

Utah State 2023 alumnus
This season's coverage starts August 26 — check back once kickoff hits.

Hale Motu'apuaka

DT · Utah State · Sr · #8

Limited signal — not enough coverage for a story yet.

Career Arc

HS
Recruit
★★★
#1800 national
CFB
College
Utah State
2021–2023
NFL
NFL Draft
Not drafted

Coaching Lineage · 2021–2023

1 coach
2021
Utah State
2022
Utah State
2023
Utah State

Played his entire career under Blake Anderson.

2025 snapshot

Season context · Team result + system

2021Utah State11-3HC: Blake Anderson · Balanced, fast tempo
2022Utah State6-7HC: Blake Anderson · Run-leaning
2023Utah State6-7HC: Blake Anderson · Run-leaning

Career stats

SeasonTeam
2023Utah State33145.53.0------
2022Utah State33147.05.0------
2021Utah State26108.02.5------
Career923820.510.5------

Signature game

SIGNATURE GAME · Week 13 · 2023

W 44–41

at New Mexico

3 TOT  ·  2 SOLO  ·  1 SACKS

Edged out New Mexico on the road in a shootout.

How he plays

Play style

Wins his gap play after play.

CFB Index positional classification

DNA match

Player DNA

Two-Gap Base

Stout at the point of attack — steady tackle-for-loss production without a standout pass-rush number.

IDL

His 2023 production profile sits closest to Carmine Bastone’s 2023 season.

Northwestern · 2023

#2

Jacques Bristol

Central Michigan · 2023

All-MAC
87%
#3

Alex Whitmore

UNLV · 2023

86%
#4

Jacques Bristol

Central Michigan · 2021

84%
#5

Macyo Williams

Kent State · 2023

84%

Matches Carmine on

Class year
Sack rate
Hurry rate

Differs from Carmine on

Height (lower)

Not enough data yet for this comparison.

As a senior, his production profile tracks closest to Jacob Holmes's senior season at Virginia (2025).

Jacob Holmes

89%match

Virginia · 2025

#2

Jacques Bristol

Central Michigan · 2023

All-MAC
87%
#3

Peyton Price

Eastern Michigan · 2024

86%
#4

TyQaze Leggs

Marshall · 2023

85%
#5

Carmine Bastone

Northwestern · 2025

84%

Matches Jacob on

Class year
Hurry rate
Sack rate