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Utah Utes tight end Brant Kuithe will be returning once again. Kuithe announced on social media Monday morning that he will play for the Utes in 2023 instead of entering his name in April's NFL draft. The news comes as Kuithe, Utah's most important receiving target, played in just four games in 2022 after he tore his ACL Sept. 24 against Arizona State.

Kuithe returned to the Utes in 2022 after it appeared he could have been a relatively high draft pick last spring. The 2023 season will be Kuithe's fifth as a Ute. A native of Katy, Texas, the 6-foot-2, 219-pounder was named to the All-Pac-12 second team for three consecutive seasons from 2019-2021 before getting hurt this fall. In his career, Kuithe has tallied 148 receptions for 1,882 yards with 16 touchdowns. - Deseret News

(DS#2 FB) rSr/2025

FB Brant Kuithe, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/11/23 - Devaughn Vele, rJr/2024, Utah, 6-4, 203 (DS#45 WR) + More +

No matter what sort of roster turnover the University of Utah has next season, it will return two of its top pass-catching options. Brant Kuithe, a fifth-year senior tight end who was lost for the season on Sept. 24 due to a torn right ACL, announced on Monday that he will return for a sixth season in 2023.

Wide receiver Devaughn Vele will follow Kuithe's lead, the program also announced Monday. A fourth-year sophomore wide receiver in 2022, Vele at one point late in the regular season indicated he was leaning towards leaving, but later did a 180-degree turn to indicate he was leaning towards staying. Vele led all Utes wide receivers last season in catches (55), yards (695) and touchdowns (5). - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#45 WR) rJr/2024

WR Devaughn Vele, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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01/09/23 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Utah quarterback Cameron Rising is returning after considering a jump to the NFL. The school announced Monday that Rising will be back as a sixth-year senior in 2023 after leading the Utes to consecutive Pac-12 titles. Rising was a semifinalist for the Davey O'Brien and Maxwell awards after throwing for 3,034 yards and 26 touchdowns with eight interceptions. The Ventura, California, native was named MVP of the Pac-12 Championship game after leading the Utes to a 47-24 win that knocked USC out of the College Football Playoff.

Utah played in the Rose Bowl the past two seasons, falling short in both after Rising went down with injuries. He suffered a left leg injury and had to leave in the third quarter of this year's game, which the Utes lost 35-21 to Penn State. Rising's return adds to a strong list of Pac-12 quarterbacks who will be back in 2023, including Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams of USC, Oregon's Bo Nix and Washington State's Michael Penix Jr. Former Clemson quarterback DJ Uiagalelei also transferred to Oregon State. - AP College Football

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: AP College Football
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01/08/23 - Cole Becker, Sr/2025, Utah, 6-3, 235 (DS#16 K) + More +

Utah didn't have to look too far to reel in a kicker from the transfer portal. Former Colorado kicker Cole Becker announced Friday he has committed to the Utes, three days after entering the NCAA transfer portal. Becker, who was the Buffaloes' kicker the past two seasons, will have two years of eligibility remaining.

What did Cole Becker do at Colorado? The 6-foot-3 kicker out of Roseville, California, made 11 of 13 field goals during the 2022 season, with a long of 49 yards, while connecting on 20 of 21 extra points. He made 25 of 33 field goals at Colorado, with a long of 56, and 45 of 46 extra points over the past two years. Becker had touchbacks on 67% of his 94 kickoffs over the past two seasons, though that improved to 73.9% during the 2022 season. He was also flagged for kickoffs out of bounds just twice. Becker entered the transfer portal not long after Jackson State kicker Alejandro Mata followed new Colorado coach Deion Sanders to Boulder. - Deseret News

(DS#16 K) Sr/2025

K Cole Becker, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/08/23 - Micah Bernard, rSr/2025, Utah, 5-10, 199 (DS#39 RB) + More +

Utah running back Micah Bernard is reportedly entering the NCAA transfer portal, according to multiple reports Wednesday afternoon. The Athletic's Max Olson, who first reported the news, said Bernard will enter the portal as a graduate transfer. Later Wednesday, Bernard shared a message on social media, thanking the Utah football community. Bernard finished second on the team in 2022 with 533 rushing yards and had four rushing touchdowns. He added 34 catches for 314 yards and another score.

Bernard, who also played cornerback for the Utes last year in the Rose Bowl when injuries limited Utah at the position, rushed for 1,136 yards and six touchdowns in four years in Utah's program. He caught 64 passes for 590 yards and three touchdowns at Utah. It's the second expected departure for the Utes' running backs group, after leading rusher Tavion Thomas declared for the NFL draft. - Deseret News

(DS#39 RB) rSr/2025

RB Micah Bernard, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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01/01/23 - Brant Kuithe, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 236 (DS#2 FB) + More +

When Brant Kuithe tore his right ACL on Sept. 25 at Arizona State, the assumption was the three-time All-Pac-12 tight end's college career was over. After all, he is a fifth-year senior who has already flirted with leaving for the NFL twice, but the fact that Kuithe only played four games this season and has never used a redshirt in his career left the door open for a return in 2023. Kuithe is with the Utes this week at the Rose Bowl, and on Saturday morning at media day, the door for his return remained open. "I still have a little bit of time, no rush right now," Kuithe said with a smile.

Pressed on whether or not he has made a decision and just isn't ready to announce it publicly, the Katy, Texas, native indicated that was indeed the case. Kuithe, Cam Rising, Devaughn Vele, Micah Bernard, and Thomas Yassmin are among the key Utes whose decisions on their respective futures will help shape what the 2023 season could look like. If, at a minimum, Rising and Kuithe return, the Utes would likely be looked upon as a top-15 team to open the season and among the favorites to win the Pac-12 for a third consecutive season. College underclassmen have until Jan. 16 to file declaration papers with the NFL seeking special eligibility for the draft, which is scheduled for April 27-29. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#2 FB) rSr/2025

FB Brant Kuithe, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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01/01/23 - Braeden Daniels, rJr/2023, Utah, 6-4, 307 (DS#6 OG) + More +

A fifth-year junior with one season of eligibility remaining, Braeden Daniels accepted a Senior Bowl invitation on Nov. 15, usually a clear indication that a player intends to leave school. The All-Pac-12 first-team offensive lineman didn't deny that on Friday morning. "I will most likely be declaring for the NFL, but it's been great here," Daniels said. "I didn't want to leave, but it's time." Working in his favor as he begins the NFL draft process is the fact Daniels is versatile, having started 18 times at left guard, 13 at left tackle, and 11 at right tackle.

All 13 starts at left tackle have come this season as the anchor to a Utah offensive line that has allowed only nine sacks. Multiple mock draft and scouting sites have Daniels projected inside as a guard at the pro level. "I want to enter the NFL draft as the most versatile offensive lineman," Daniels said. "That's something I have to embrace and after playing all the different positions, having that film, it's going to help me excel within the draft." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#6 OG) rJr/2023

OG Braeden Daniels, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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12/20/22 - Dorian Singer, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-0, 181 (DS#9999 WR) + More +

USC dipped back into the transfer portal on Monday, adding one of the best players in the Pac-12 to its 2023 roster. Former Arizona receiver Dorian Singer committed to the Trojans Monday morning, making his announcement in a simple post on Twitter. As a sophomore at Arizona in 2022, Singer led the Pac-12 with 1,105 receiving yards, averaging 16.7 per reception. He recorded 66 receptions and six touchdowns, earning first-team All-Pac-12 honors.

Against USC, Singer caught seven passes for 141 yards and three touchdowns, including an incredible one-handed grab. Singer is the third former Wildcat to transfer to USC this month, joining defensive lineman Kyon Barrs and cornerback Christian Roland-Wallace, all of whom are immediately eligible. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Singer should have the opportunity to step right into the USC offense as a top option for Heisman-winning quarterback Caleb Williams next season. Transfers Jordan Addison and Mario Williams thrived in their first years at USC, and Addison is expected to enter the NFL draft as he projects as a likely first-round pick. - Orange County Register

(DS#9999 WR) rSr/2025

WR Dorian Singer, Utah
News Source: Orange County Register
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12/19/22 - Zemaiah Vaughn, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-3, 186 (DS#41 CB) + More +

Utah cornerback Clark Phillips III opted out of this year's Rose Bowl and declared for the NFL draft, so the Utes will be without their top defensive player in their biggest game of the season. Phillips III will be among the top cornerbacks available in the 2023 NFL draft. This season, he has six interceptions, which ranks second in the country. Two of those interceptions were returned for touchdowns. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound cornerback also had 24 tackles and six pass breakups. He was a unanimous All-American this season, the first-ever for Utah on offense or defense. "Clark Phillips, he's one of a kind... He's a great leader, so being around him just makes you push himself more and go harder in everything you do," cornerback Zemaiah Vaughn said. The most likely candidate to fill in for Phillips III at right cornerback is Vaughn, a sophomore.

Listed behind Phillips III at right cornerback on the Utes' latest depth chart, Vaughn has played in all 13 games this season, and has started six games, including three at right cornerback. "We've all pretty much been rotating, so nothing different, just do it better," Vaughn said. The 6-foot-2, 178-pound Vaughn leads the team in pass breakups with nine this season and has 22 tackles. He's forced a fumble and recovered a fumble this year. "In (Phillip III's) absence, we have faith in the guys that are coming up, JT and Zemaiah, that that will play," Hubert said. In the Pac-12 championship win over USC, Vaughn had four tackles. In last season's Pac-12 championship game win over Oregon, Vaughn was injured and couldn't finish the rest of the game, also missing the 2022 Rose Bowl. - Deseret News

(DS#41 CB) rSr/2025

CB Zemaiah Vaughn, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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12/16/22 - Dorian Singer, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-0, 181 (DS#9999 WR) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: WR Dorian Singer, So., Arizona,...Singer led the Wildcats with a career-high 1,105 receiving yards and was third on the team with six touchdown catches. He became the eighth Arizona player in program history to record 1,000 yards in a single season. Singer's 1,105 receiving yards are the fifth-most in Arizona single-season history. It is the first All-Pac-12 honor of his career. - Arizona Football

(DS#9999 WR) rSr/2025

WR Dorian Singer, Utah
News Source: Arizona Football
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12/16/22 - *Clark Phillips III, rSo/2023, Utah, 5-09, 184 (DS#9 CB) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: DB Clark Phillips III, So., Utah,...Phillips, who was also voted first-team all-conference by the coaches, has started in every game he has appeared in this season (12), recording 24 total tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) with six interceptions and six pass breakups. The Jim Thorpe Award finalist is tied for the lead among Power Five players this season in total interceptions (6). - Utah Football

(DS#9 CB) rSo/2023

CB *Clark Phillips III, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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12/16/22 - Keaton Bills, rJr/2024, Utah, 6-5, 321 (DS#19 OG) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION: OL Keaton Bills, So.,...Has played in all 13 games this season with 12 starts at left guard...tallied his first-career rush in Utah's win over Stanford for five yards, also getting a fumble recovery...part of the offense that ranks 10th nationally and second in the Pac-12 in rushing offense (220.2)...helps lead an offensive line that ranks sixth in the FBS and third in the league in sacks allowed per game (0.69). - Utah Football

(DS#19 OG) rJr/2024

OG Keaton Bills, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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12/16/22 - Karene Reid, Sr/2025, Utah, 6-0, 231 (DS#21 OLB) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: LB Karene Reid, So., Utah,...K. Reid has racked up 68 total tackles this season (7.5 TFL, 4.0 sacks) with three pass breakups, two quarterback hurries, one interception, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. He has six games this season with five or more tackles and seven games with at least half a tackle for loss. - Utah Football

(DS#21 OLB) Sr/2025

OLB Karene Reid, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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12/16/22 - Junior Tafuna, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-4, 308 (DS#46 DT) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL SECOND TEAM: DL Junior Tafuna, So., Utah,...Has started in all 13 games this season, recording 26 total tackles (2.5 TFL), two quarterback hurries, a pass breakup and one interception...season-high six tackles came vs. Oregon State...recorded his first-career interception against Southern Utah, also grabbing three stops (0.5 TFL)...had two tackles, a pass breakup and a quarterback hurry at Oregon...notched five tackles at UCLA. - Utah Football

(DS#46 DT) rSr/2025

DT Junior Tafuna, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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12/16/22 - Sataoa Laumea, rJr/2024, Utah, 6-4, 319 (DS#10 OG) + More +

2022 ALL-PAC-12 CONFERENCE FOOTBALL FIRST TEAM: OL Sataoa Laumea, So., Utah,...Has started all 13 games, including 12 at right tackle and one at right guard...has helped the Utes to the 500-yard mark in total offense in five games in 2022, including in three of the last four...leading an offensive line that has only allowed 9.0 sacks this season, which ranks 10th in the FBS...also helping the Utes to a No. 10 ranking in rushing offense, averaging 220.2 yards per game. - Utah Football

(DS#10 OG) rJr/2024

OG Sataoa Laumea, Utah
News Source: Utah Football
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