The Utah football team suffered its first major injury of spring practice Thursday when senior linebacker Nai Fotu was taken off the field with a knee injury.

Utah associate athletic director Liz Abel said the extent of the injury won't be known until Fotu is further examined by team doctors.

Fotu, a senior from Laie, Hawaii who is known for his quickness and hard hitting, has a history of knee injuries. He injured his knee in the final game of the 2008 season and missed the 2009 Sugar Bowl and last year's spring practice while recovering from surgery.

The 6-foot, 235-pound Fotu entered spring practice as the projected starter at middle linebacker after playing at end in 2009, where he finished with 23 tackles. He was a stud linebacker in 2008 and finished with 35 tackles.

His backup listed on the spring depth chart is Matt Martinez, a 6-foot, 228-pound junior who played in 11 games and finished with six tackles last year.