Class: Senior
Hometown: East Palo Alto, Calif.
Last College: Foothill JC
Height / Weight: 6-1 / 308
Position: DT
Birthdate: 05/18/1988
Experience: SQ

UTAH: Top returner behind starting tackle Dave Kruger hopes to beat out incoming recruits in the fall.

2011-Played on the scout teams.

2010-Did not play while recovering from knee injury suffered during spring ball.

2009-Redshirt.

PRIOR TO UTAH: Led Foothill JC to an 8-3 record in 2008, including a win in the Silicon Valley Bowl ... posted 45 tackles, 14 TFL and five sacks ... team captain ... an all-league linebacker at Mountain View HS (Calif.) ... league's outstanding freshman in 2003 ... also played tight end ... co-captain in the 2007 Silicon Valley Youth Classic all-star game ... four-year varsity player.

PERSONAL: Son of Joeli and Elizabeth Pela ... three brothers and two sisters ... brother Tevita was a member of the Utah football team in 1998-99 ... communication major ... full name is Joape Vosa Cavu Pela (pronounced joe-ah-pay pella) ... born May 18, 1988.