Montana linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu is officially coming back for one more season, and his story continues to stand out in an era where eligibility conversations often feel transactional. Tuliaupupu has received a waiver from the NCAA that allows him to return for a ninth season of college football, and he will do so with the Montana Grizzlies, marking his second year in Missoula.
Extra years of eligibility have become more common across college football, but Tuliaupupu's case feels different. This is not about exploiting technicalities or squeezing out one last run for personal gain. His waiver reflects exactly what the system was designed for, providing relief to an athlete whose career has been repeatedly interrupted by injuries largely beyond his control.
Tuliaupupu entered college football as one of the most decorated defensive prospects in the country. In the 2018 recruiting class, he earned a four-star rating from every major recruiting service and was ranked as the No. 54 overall player nationally. He also checked in as the No. 4 inside linebacker and the No. 6 player in California, according to 247Sports. His high school résumé backed it all up.
During his senior season in 2017, Tuliaupupu won the High School Butkus Award and was named USA Today All-USA Defensive Player of the Year. Even while missing the playoffs due to injury, he finished the season with 63 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and four sacks, cementing his reputation as a dominant, instinctive linebacker with elite upside.
That success led him to sign with USC Trojans, but his college career immediately ran into trouble. A foot surgery before his freshman season sidelined him for both the 2018 and 2019 seasons. Just as he appeared poised to return, a knee injury during summer workouts wiped out his 2020 and 2021 campaigns as well. Four years into his time at USC, Tuliaupupu had yet to see the field.
He finally broke through in 2022, appearing in 14 games for the Trojans. While his role was limited, the flashes were there. He recorded 10 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 2.5 sacks, showing that his athleticism and physicality had survived years of rehab and recovery. Unfortunately, momentum once again proved elusive.
Another injury during training camp in 2023 forced Tuliaupupu to miss yet another full season. He returned the following year and played in seven games at USC, but an illness cut that season short as well. After years of stops and starts, he entered the transfer portal looking for a fresh beginning and a place where he could finally stay on the field.
That opportunity came at Montana, and the results were immediate. In his first season with the Grizzlies, Tuliaupupu delivered the most complete year of his career. He earned second-team All-Big Sky honors after totaling 43 tackles, five tackles for loss, two sacks, and two forced fumbles across 14 games. More importantly, he became a physical tone-setter in the middle of Montana's defense.
His impact went beyond the stat sheet. Tuliaupupu was awarded the program's Doug Betters Golden Helmet Award, an honor given to the team's hardest hitter and best tackler. For a defense built on toughness and physicality, that recognition spoke volumes about how quickly he earned respect within the locker room.
Heading into the upcoming season, Tuliaupupu is expected to be a key contributor once again. He is one of nine significant defensive pieces returning for the Grizzlies, a group that also includes All-Big Sky linebacker Peyton Wing. With experience, leadership, and continuity on its side, Montana's defense projects as one of the most reliable units in the conference.
With his waiver approved, Tuliaupupu now joins Cam McCormick, the former Miami tight end, as one of the rare players in modern college football to receive eligibility for a ninth season. In a sport increasingly defined by rapid movement and short windows, Tuliaupupu's journey stands as a reminder that perseverance still matters.
At Montana, his story is no longer about what might have been. It is about what still is, and what he has earned the chance to finish on his own terms.
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