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Utah has a new left tackle protecting quarterback Cam Rising's blind side. During the spring, junior Braeden Daniels moved from right tackle to left tackle, replacing Bamidele Olaseni. "I'm still refining the details," Daniels said. "I'm trying to not just get the job done but be a dominant left tackle and be that guy that people can depend on. It's been a good spring, working on my technique. It's getting better each and every day." The 6-foot-4, 299-pound junior from Carrollton, Texas, started all 14 games last season, including three at left guard and 11 at right tackle. Daniels earned All-Pac-12 second-team honors.

Offensive line coach Jim Harding explained why Daniels is playing left tackle now. "A lot of it has to do with the fact that he has experience and has played at a high level. He was an all-conference player. That plays into it. He's a guy that is doing the right things off the field as well," he said. "He's very attentive in meetings. He's got a high football IQ. A lot of kids seek him to get answers outside of meeting time. (Offensive lineman) Paul Maile, though he's been limited, has done a nice job. That's what you want - your veteran players and Paul and Braeden have done a nice job that way." "He continues to refine his game. We switched him over to left tackle and it took him a practice or two to get comfortable there. But he's really embraced that," Harding said. "He knows that it's a position that we value a lot. We try to put one of our better players in that position. He's done a nice job. His football IQ is really high. That's helped him transition maybe a little bit faster than what we were expecting." - Deseret News

(DS#6 OG) rJr/2023

OG Braeden Daniels, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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04/24/22 - Jonah Elliss, Jr/2024, Utah, 6-2, 248 (DS#7 DE) + More +

Lewis Powell, who is in his seventh season coaching Utah's defensive ends, also played for the Utes from 2001-03. So he's seen a lot of talented, highly skilled and productive defensive lines over the years. This spring, Powell said the defensive ends group he's working with now is the most athletic in program history. "It's a good young group. Practices have been really competitive," he said. "We have a really good, deep, athletic group. I think it's the most athletic group that's ever been here." The Utes return Van Fillinger, Miki Suguturaga and Jonah Elliss, while Connor O'Toole has been switched from wide receiver to defensive end.

While Utah must replace Mika Tafua, who is off to the NFL, and Xavier Carlton, who transferred to Cal, Powell is optimistic about what this position can accomplish next fall. "We have an awesome dynamic. Van and Miki are stout and strong. Connor and Jonah are really athletic, really high-ceiling," he said. "We clocked both of those guys at 4.5. I don't think we've ever had that kind of athleticism, ever. I think it's going to be a group by committee. I'm excited by the growth of all five, six guys participating in spring ball." Coach Kyle Whittingham said he feels good about Fillinger, Elliss, O'Toole and Suguturaga. "Jonah Elliss has had a really good spring. Connor O'Toole, who moved from wide receiver to defensive end, it seems to be a great fit for him. Miki Suguturaga is a guy that has played his best football this spring. So those four guys right now are the top four at that position. We have a couple of guys that are coming this summer that we're excited about as well." - Deseret News

(DS#7 DE) Jr/2024

DE Jonah Elliss, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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12/16/21 - Cole Fotheringham, rJr/2022, Utah, 6-4, 246 (DS#28 TE) + More +

Utah tight end Cole Fotheringham announced Monday that he is declaring for the NFL draft. Like the two other Utes who have declared for the draft - TJ Pledger and Britain Covey - Fotheringham will play in the Rose Bowl against Ohio State. A fourth-year junior due to a free year of eligibility in 2020, Fotheringham has caught 13 passes for 109 yards this season. Though he doesn't have as many receptions as tight ends Brant Kuithe and Dalton Kincaid this year, Fotheringham has been a key blocker for the Utes. - Deseret News

(DS#28 TE) rJr/2022

TE Cole Fotheringham, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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12/16/21 - Logan Kendall, rSr/2023, Utah, 6-3, 249 (DS#16 FB) + More +

What a strange Sunday afternoon it was for the University of Utah on the recruiting front. First, the Utes had a 2022 commit - Hawaii offensive tackle Tavo Motuapuaka - announce he was flipping his commitment to Utah State. Then, Utah received a commitment from Idaho grad transfer tight end/fullback Logan Kendall. The Cheney, Washington, native was a two-time first-team Big Sky selection as a fullback for Idaho, and he also earned Phil Steele third-team All-America honors during the FCS spring 2021 season. Kendall also showed the ability to make an impact with limited offensive touches. Over the past four seasons, he scored five touchdowns - three receiving and two rushing - for the Vandals. He caught 18 passes for 204 yards during that span. - Deseret News

(DS#16 FB) rSr/2023

FB Logan Kendall, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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12/11/21 - Britain Covey, rSr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 169 (DS#34 WR) + More +

Utah wide receiver Britain Covey has elected to enter the NFL draft, and the Utes' game against Ohio State in the Rose Bowl will be his final as a Ute. "Many people reading this are probably thinking, "Wait, you're telling me this guy has another year of eligibility?" The answer is yes. While it sounds fun to drag out my college career until I collect social security, I'm ready for my next chapter. I feel perfectly content with my college career," Covey said in a Twitter post.

Covey's first game as a Ute came against Michigan in 2015. He then went on a Latter-day Saint mission in 2016 and 2017. Covey redshirted in 2019 after appearing in four games, and with the NCAA COVID-19 rules that gave players in 2020 season an extra year of eligibility, Covey could have chosen to come back for one final year as a Ute in 2022. In his career with Utah, Covey has 1,977 receiving yards, which ranks sixth on Utah's all-time career receiving yards list. This season, he has 49 receptions for 480 yards and two touchdowns. - Deseret News

(DS#34 WR) rSr/2022

WR Britain Covey, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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12/11/21 - TJ Pledger, Sr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 192 (DS#46 RB) + More +

University of Utah running back T.J. Pledger announced on social media Thursday afternoon that he intends to enter the 2022 NFL Draft after playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day against Ohio State. A fourth-year junior who transferred to Utah after three seasons at Oklahoma, Pledger has played in all 13 games for the Pac-12-champion Utes, sitting at 671 yards and six touchdowns on just 97 carries. Pledger has four 100-yard games on the season, including a 25-carry, 119-yard, two-touchdown performance in a Nov. 13 win at Arizona when Utah's leading rusher, Tavion Thomas, was unavailable. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#46 RB) Sr/2022

RB TJ Pledger, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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12/09/21 - Devin Lloyd, Sr/2022, Utah, 6-3, 237 (DS#1 ILB) + More +

LOTT IMPACT TROPHY FINALIST: DEVIN LLOYD - LB, UTAH (10-3) SR.,...6-3, 232, 4.75, Chula Vista, CA. Mid-season All-American; Butkus, Bednarik and Walter Camp semi-finalist; Has 22 tackles for losses, 2nd in the country (42 career tackles for losses); 109 total tackles (leads Pac-12), 3 sacks, 3 interceptions; Returning Butkus award finalist; 3x All-Pac 12, 1st team in 2020 and 2021; 2020 Sporting News All-AA; Two-time Lott POW and three-time Pac-12 Player of the Week. "I see exactly what the NFL looks for in linebackers. He-s got the size, the speed, the explosion, the athleticism, the intelligence — everything you see in those elite linebackers in the NFL, Devin possesses them. He plays within the structure and framework of the defense. But we utilize him in a lot of different ways. You saw us bring him off the edge quite a bit so far this season. He-s got great size. He runs like a deer. He-s instinctive, he-s got a long wingspan and you see him tip balls quite often, particularly in pass rush. He-s a playmaker. He-s a guy that when there-s a play to be made, he almost always makes it. He-s an absolute football junkie and student of the game. He watches as much film during the course of a week as anybody we-ve ever had here." - Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham - Lott Impact Trophy

(DS#1 ILB) Sr/2022

ILB Devin Lloyd, Utah
News Source: Lott Impact Trophy
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12/07/21 - Devin Lloyd, Sr/2022, Utah, 6-3, 237 (DS#1 ILB) + More +

2021 PAC-12 PAT TILLMAN DEFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Devin Lloyd, Utah,...Lloyd, a two-time Butkus Award Finalist, leads the Utes with a career-high 106 tackles during the regular season including 22.0 tackles for loss, which was second most in the country...The junior becomes the first Utah player to win this award and just the third Ute to win a Pac-12 annual award after Zack Moss won 2019 Pac-12 Offensive Player of the Year and Ty Jordan won 2020 Pac-12 Freshman Offensive Player of the Year...Named MVP of the 2021 Pac-12 Championship Game, leading the Utes to their first ever Pac-12 championship...Had seven tackles and an interception he returned 34 yards for a touchdown to give the Utes a 14-0 lead in the first quarter...It was Lloyd's second Pick 6 of the season and third of his career. - Pac-12 Football

(DS#1 ILB) Sr/2022

ILB Devin Lloyd, Utah
News Source: Pac-12 Football
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12/07/21 - Junior Tafuna, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-4, 308 (DS#46 DT) + More +

2021 PAC-12 DEFENSIVE FRESHMAN OF THE YEAR (COACHES): Junior Tafuna, Utah,...Tafuna emerged as a force at defensive tackle, starting the final 10 games of the season...First Utah player to win this award...Registered 4.5 sacks this season, second most among Pac-12 freshmen...Named Pac-12 Defensive Line Player of the Week after Utah's win over Oregon in Salt Lake City...Had career-high nine tackles at Arizona, the most by a Utes defensive lineman since 2018. - Pac-12 Football

(DS#46 DT) rSr/2025

DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
News Source: Pac-12 Football
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12/03/21 - Devin Lloyd, Sr/2022, Utah, 6-3, 237 (DS#1 ILB) + More +

Devin Lloyd returned an interception for a touchdown, Cam Rising threw for another score and No. 14 Utah clinched the first Rose Bowl berth in school history with a 38-10 victory over No. 10 Oregon in the Pac-12 championship game Friday night. This game was a near carbon copy of the one in Salt Lake City two weeks ago when the Utes (10-3, No. 17 CFP) jumped out early and won 38-7. While that game all but ended the playoff hopes for Oregon (10-3, No. 10), the rematch delivered coach Kyle Whittingham and the Utes the Rose Bowl prize they had been seeking since joining the Pac-12 in 2011. It capped an emotional last 12 months for the Utes program that has dealt with the deaths of two players. Utah had lost its first two trips to the conference title game, including two years ago to Oregon, but left little doubt this time.

Rising engineered a TD drive on the opening possession after converting a sneak on fourth down near midfield. Tavon Thomas capped it with a 2-yard run. Lloyd then returned an interception 34 yards for a score later in the first quarter and Utah put the game away by scoring twice in the final 27 seconds of the first half. Rising hit Dalton Kincaid on an 11-yard pass with 27 seconds left. Then Malone Mataele intercepted an ill-advised pass from Anthony Brown to set up Jadon Redding's 50-yard field goal on the final play of the half to make it 23-0. Thomas and T.J. Pledger added TD runs in the second half for the Utes to the delight of the huge contingent of Utah fans among the 56.511 in attendance for the first title game in Las Vegas. - Utah/AP College Football

(DS#1 ILB) Sr/2022

ILB Devin Lloyd, Utah
News Source: Utah/AP College Football
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11/26/21 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Losing a couple of early season games was far from the most difficult thing Utah had to overcome to get back to the Pac-12 title game. "We've taken probably the hardest thing that can happen and we've turned it into something beautiful," receiver Britain Covey said after Senior Day victory against Colorado on Friday. Cameron Rising threw three touchdown passes, Tavion Thomas ran for 142 yards and a score, and No. 16 Utah beat the Buffaloes 28-13. Within the last year, the Utes lost star running back Ty Jordan and defensive back Aaron Lowe to tragic shooting deaths. Utah honored them with a TJ-AL logo on their helmets. "There's always been a reverence whenever we've talked about them, but we're getting to the point now where we just celebrate them and honor what they represent. It's more than two guys now, it's the entire team, the whole university," Covey said.

Utah Coach Kyle Whittingham said his team "didn't have the look in our eyes that we had last week" and his players admitted it was difficult to focus since they already clinched the Pac-12 South. But they didn't want to let their fallen teammates down. The Utes feel they are a team of destiny. "I know they are out there with us," said linebacker Devin Lloyd, who had nine tackles and a sack in what could be his last home game before declaring for the NFL draft. "They are the reason why we have been as successful as we have been." Utah rallied from a 1-2 start to win eight of their last nine games on their way to their third Pac-12 championship appearance in four seasons. The Utes (9-3, 8-1 Pac-12) rushed for 265 yards and held Colorado (4-8, 3-6 Pac-12) to 148 yards of total offense. "In this day and age, that is not easy to do. Great job by our defense...they were active, they flew around," Whittingham said. - Utah/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Utah/AP College Football
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11/25/21 - Logan Kendall, rSr/2023, Utah, 6-3, 249 (DS#16 FB) + More +

2021 ALL-BIG SKY CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM (COACHES): FB Logan Kendall, Idaho,...Kendall was a Unanimous first-team selection at fullback. Kendall was a key component in the Vandal running attack that totaled over 2000 yards this fall. He also scored two touchdowns and averaged nearly eight yards a carry in to 2021. This is the second time in 2021 Kendall has earned First-Team All-Big Sky Honors. He was named to the first team in the 2021 spring season. - Idaho Football

(DS#16 FB) rSr/2023

FB Logan Kendall, Utah
News Source: Idaho Football
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11/21/21 - Tavion Thomas, rJr/2023, Utah, 6-0, 237 (DS#25 RB) + More +

Utah ended Oregon's College Football Playoff hopes in dominant fashion. The Ducks' 38-7 loss Saturday night also ended any chance the Pac-12 champion will claim one of the bids in the four-team playoff. Neither Oregon nor Utah will finish high enough in the College Football Playoff rankings to earn a bid. It means that the Pac-12 will not send its champion to the playoff for a fourth consecutive season. 'It hurts because there were a lot of expectations,' Oregon quarterback Anthony Brown said. "The potential was there, and we didn't maximize. We didn't grab the opportunity that was right in front of us." The No. 4 Ducks never really had a chance against the Utes after no. 24 Utah scored 14 points in the final 27 seconds before halftime to take a four-touchdown lead.

Britain Covey returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half. "It really was a tough situation for them coming out and being down 28-0," Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said. "That was really the biggest portion of the game and the thing that really give us a ton of momentum." Tavion Thomas ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns to help the Utes (8-3, 7-1 Pac-12, No. 23 CFP) wrap up a share of the Pac-12 South title and a spot in the conference championship game. Utah has won four in a row. Thomas has run for a Utah-record 17 touchdowns this season. The previous mark was 15, shared by Zack Moss and John White IV. Cameron Rising threw for 178 yards. His top target, Brant Kuithe, piled up 118 yards on five catches for just the second 100-yard game of his career. Covey had 191 all-purpose yards. Utah converted 11 of 14 third downs and finished with 386 total yards. - Utah/AP College Football

(DS#25 RB) rJr/2023

RB Tavion Thomas, Utah
News Source: Utah/AP College Football
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11/21/21 - Britain Covey, rSr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 169 (DS#34 WR) + More +

Britain Covey returned a punt 78 yards for a touchdown on the final play of the first half, giving Utah 14 points in 27 seconds and a 28-0 lead, and the No. 24 Utes ended No. 4 Oregon's College Football Playoff hopes with a 38-7 victory Saturday night. Tavion Thomas ran for 94 yards and three touchdowns to help the Utes (8-3, 7-1 Pac-12) wrap up a share of the Pac-12 South title and a spot in the conference championship game. Utah has won four in a row. Thomas has run for a Utah-record 17 touchdowns this season. The previous mark was 15, shared by Zack Moss and John White IV. Cameron Rising threw for 178 yards. His top target, Brant Kuithe, piled up 118 yards on five catches for just the second 100-yard game of his career. Covey had 191 all-purpose yards. Anthony Brown threw for 231 yards and a touchdown for Oregon (9-2, 6-2 Pac-12, No. 3 CFP). Oregon rushed for 63 yards and had 294 yards of offense. - Oregon/AP College Football

(DS#34 WR) rSr/2022

WR Britain Covey, Utah
News Source: Oregon/AP College Football
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11/13/21 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Cameron Rising's long hair was still dripping wet at the postgame press conference, 30 minutes after the final whistle, giving an indication of a bruising, physical afternoon in the desert. His Utah Utes had earned a victory. It was far more difficult than expected. "It's not about how pretty it looks," Rising said. "It's not about having glitz and glamour, it's about getting the job done and that's what we did here today." Rising threw for 294 yards and two touchdowns, T.J. Pledger ran for 119 yards and two touchdowns, and Utah maintained its lead in the Pac-12 South by beating Arizona 38-29 on Saturday.

It was a hard-earned win for the Utes (7-3, 6-1 Pac-12, No. 24 CFP). Arizona led for part of the first half and kept the game tight all afternoon. Rising's perfectly placed 17-yard touchdown pass to Dalton Kincaid in the back corner of the end zone late in the third quarter gave the Utes a 31-20 lead and some semblance of control in the back-and-forth game. It didn't last long. Arizona (1-9, 1-6) responded with a field goal to cut the advantage to 31-23 and then the Wildcats scored again when Nazar Bombata blocked a Utah punt and Rhedi Short recovered before scoring a 3-yard touchdown to pull within 31-29 with about 10:30 left. The Wildcats' two-point conversion to tie was unsuccessful. Utah finally closed the game with a methodical 15-play, 75-yard drive that lasted more than eight minutes. It was capped by Pledger's 2-yard touchdown run with 2:10 left. "We knew it was going to be a physical, 60-minute fight," Pledger said. "That's exactly what we got." Utah's offense was the difference-maker once again. The Utes have scored at least 34 points in five straight games. They took a 21-17 halftime lead after Rising hit Brant Kuithe for a 2-yard touchdown with two seconds remaining. - Utah/AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Utah/AP College Football
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