AJ Tanupo, - Prep Redzone

AJ Tanupo

Defensive Line

2024 Class

6'4" Height

285 Weight

Eastside Catholic School

State Rank
Position Rank

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About AJ

AJ Tanupo is a 6'4" Defensive Line in the 2024 class. Tanupo attends Eastside Catholic in Washington. Tanupo's Player Profile was created on June 15, 2021. Subscribe to Prep Redzone to see where AJ Tanupo is ranked and what our scouts have written about them.

Expert Analysis

Dom Skene

Prep Redzone Scout

Tanupo took home the camp’s overall MVP award as he dominated the lineman session. He’d been solid during the Spring Tackle season and put together good tape as a junior but was a different beast to begin the summer. One twitter clip shows him feint both ways before a nasty spin move that prevents the OG from getting in front of him in any meaningful way. He gets close enough that even though the Guard had started with a decent stance on the balls of his feet, he’s completely on his heels when AJ comes in to bat his hands outside before spinning in. At this point, AJ is stiff arming him out of contention while getting home, and has rendered his arms useless for the entire rep. Tanupo also put him backwards with his lower body, meaning there wasn’t much he could do without being the more violent of the two, another rarity going against the hungry interior DL. AJ got all of his physical advantages working against him quick and showed big energy with his ideal frame, netting him the award at this showcase and giving him recruiting momentum heading into the summer. Idaho offered the following week, and he now holds Portland State and Montana State offers as well, a list that should continue to grow before his senior season.

3 years ago

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Read Evaluation

Dom Skene

Prep Redzone Scout

I’d heard about Tanupo on Twitter, but hadn’t watched his tape before seeing him in the game; however, his movement skills are special. As one of the few two-way players on the FSP roster, he moves so well that he could be effective on the DL or the OL. He got off quick and dropped into coverage as a QB spy on 3rd and long on one play that made me especially excited for how well he got up, turned his hips and crept back into coverage. His height and weight could profile as a great interior lineman, but he’s also versatile enough to play in a DE role. Tanupo has a big toolbox on both sides and will put them to use for years to come.

3 years ago