3 underrated 2025 DLs Texas could offer this summer

Malili Asiata, San Bernadino (CA) Aquinas (Utah commit)

The Utah Utes are one of the elite programs in college football when it comes to scouting underrated talent in the western United States, especially on the defensive side of the ball. Longtime Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has made a name for himself in the power conferences in college football by recruiting and developing overlooked players at an extremely high level in the decade in Salt Lake City.

It seems to be one of Utah's latest gem finds in the trenches on the recruiting trail for the 2025 class was two-way three-star lineman from California, Malili Asiata. The big and physical 6-foot-5 and 335-pound lineman who attends Aquinas High School in Southern California committed to Utah after taking an official visit to Salt Lake City this summer.

Asiata originally hails from Australia. He played his first year of high school football at Aquinas High School in 2023, quickly showing off his natural talent and fast-developing football IQ. On his Hudl highlights, Asiata shows insane strength and power coming off the line of scrimmage on either side of the ball.

He also moves pretty well for a lineman who is north of 330 pounds. Asiata uses his long wingspan, powerful hands, and overwhelming strength at the point of attack well to overpower opposing blockers when he's playing defensive/nose tackle. He also shows off his quickness, hand placement, and finishing power as a blocker when he plays the offensive side of the ball for Aquinas.

Per a 247Sports report after his commitment to Utah on June 23, Asiata is expected to play defensive tackle collegiately at Utah.

Since he's already been scouted to play the defensive side of the ball by the Utah coaching staff, I think it would make sense for Texas to at least throw a feeler offer out there to the fast-developing lineman. Texas has flipped other Utah commits late in recruiting cycles in the past, and it worked out great for the Longhorns (i.e. linebacker Jaylan Ford during the 2020 cycle).

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