Former USC Football Player Granted Ninth Year of Eligibility From NCAA

The NCAA officially granted former USC linebacker Solomon Tuliaupupu a ninth year of eligibility , and Tuliaupupu will return to Montana for the 2026 season.

𝐆𝐫𝐢𝐳 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

LB Solomon Tuliaupupu & OL Dylan Jemtegaard receive waivers from the NCAA and will be BACK in 2026! #GoGriz pic.twitter.com/DctceaF1v5

— Montana Griz Football (@MontanaGrizFB) February 9, 2026

Tuliaupupu will be going into his second season with the Grizzlies. He transferred to Montana from USC after the 2024 season. Last season was just the second time since 2018 that Tuliaupupu has been able to compete in a full season of games.

During the 2025 season, he recorded 43 total tackles, two sacks and two forced fumbles. Montana also advanced to the semifinal round of the FCS playoffs.

Tuliaupupu Has Undergone Foot and Knee Surgeries

Tuliaupupu initially signed with the Trojans as a four-star prospect from Mater Dei in 2018 but redshirted five seasons throughout his stint with USC due to foot and knee injuries.

Before signing with USC, Tuliaupupu was projected to be a star linebacker in college football. He won the 2017 High School Butkus Award and was named the 2017 USA Today All-USA Defensive Player of the Year.

He spent his senior high school season playing for Mater Dei and helped the team win the California CIF Division 1 title and the California State Open Division crown and be named the prep national champions. Tuliaupupu also recorded 63 tackles, including 12 for losses, four sacks, a fumble recovery and a forced fumble that season.

Tuliaupupu suffered a season-ending foot injury during the playoffs of his senior high school season. He redshirted his freshman season at USC after undergoing pre-season foot surgery. Then, he redshirted the following 2019 season after undergoing a second foot surgery during 2019 fall training camp.

He did not make his college debut until the 2022 season. Tuliaupupu missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons with a knee injury during 2020 summer workouts that required surgery.

His only full season with USC was in 2022 when he logged 10 total tackles and 2.5 sacks. He played in nine games during the 2024 season after missing the entire 2023 season with a knee injury.

Photo Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

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