Graduate transfer DL Vainuku impressing teammates

The Utah graduate transfer defensive lineman certainly cuts an imposing figure. He's also been out of football for a while, has battled a difficult foot injury and steps into a position group at Nebraska that is longer on options than most other spots.

Vainuku was part of the Utes' 2012 class and then began a two year LDS mission. He returned to school but suffered a lisfranc injury -- the kind that has derailed many careers across many sports -- that held him out all of 2015. He played sparingly in 2016 and then retired in 2017 due to continued struggles.

Vainuku is eligible right away and has two years of eligibility remaining. He's listed at 6-foot-3 and 295 pounds. Stoltenberg, not…