Deuce Lutui

Lutui was born in Haʻapai in the Pacific island nation of Tonga. One of six siblings, he is a younger cousin of Vai Sikahema, who became the first Tongan to play in the National Football League when he joined the Arizona Cardinals as a kick returner in 1986.[1] When Lutui was a few months old, his father, Inoke Lutui, moved the family to the United States, settling in Mesa, Arizona, a suburb of Phoenix.[2] When he was six years old, Lutui survived a car accident that killed one of his sisters and left his father permanently disabled. As a teenager, Lutui had to work to support his family.[3]

Lutui attended Mesa High School, where he played two-way lineman for the school's football team.[4] In 2001, he was named Super Prep All-Farwest, Prep Star All-West, All-State, all-region and all-conference as a two-way lineman for Mesa High School.[4]

After high school Lutui signed with the University of Southern California to play for the USC Trojans football team. However, he failed to qualify for admission to the school. Instead, he spent a year at Mesa Community College, where he played for the school's junior college football team. He then transferred to Snow College in Ephraim, Utah, where he received a number of junior college football honors. By 2004, he had improved his grades enough to enroll at USC.[3]

Lutui was a first-team All-Pac-10 selection and a consensus first-team All-American at guard for the Trojans in 2005. At 370 pounds, he was the heaviest USC Trojans player of all-time.

Lutui is a devout member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.[8] He is also an Eagle Scout.[9] In 2004, he married the former Puanani Heimuli; they have six children.[3][4]

On July 2, 2010, Lutui became a naturalized citizen of the United States.[10]

Lutui follows a semi-vegan diet to help control his weight.[11]