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It was good to see Covey out there healthy because even he will tell you it's been a long road with injuries, not to mention the pandemic. The third-quarter touchdown reception was aided by Bentley doing a nice job of looking off the defense, then hitting Covey over the middle on a slant on second-and-goal from the 8. Covey's punt return was vintage, shades of his 2015 touchdown return at Fresno State. He fielded the ball cleanly at his own 34, shook an arm tackle, and blasted up the middle, untouched before juking the punter at the Oregon State 10 and walking into the end zone. "I don't even know if I can express how frustrating injuries have been for me," said Covey, who caught his first touchdown since Oct. 20, 2018 vs. USC. "Being healthy makes the biggest difference, I can't even explain. I came in tonight more excited than any game the past two years because I knew when I lined up, I wouldn't be thinking about injury, or any part of my body." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#34 WR) rSr/2022

WR Britain Covey, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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12/07/20 - Ty Jordan, So/2024, Utah, 5-07, 200 (DS#999 RB) + More +

DEC 7 PAC-12 FRESHMAN OF THE WEEK: Ty Jordan, Fr., RB, Utah,...Led the Utes in rushing in their 30-24 win over Oregon State Saturday night, racking up a career-high 167 yards on 27 carries (6.2 ypc) with one rushing touchdown...He also had two receptions for 22 yards (189 all-purpose) and accounted for nine of Utah's 13 rushing first downs...Scored his first-career touchdown as a Ute, punching in a one-yard rushing TD with 3:10 left in the second quarter...His 167 rushing yards is the most by a true freshman since 1995 and is the first time a true freshman has rushed for 100+ yards in a game since Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala did against BYU in 1995...Ranks 13th in the FBS and fourth in the Pac-12 overall in rush yards per carry (6.73), also ranking second among freshmen nationally in the category.

Ranks second among freshmen in the FBS in all-purpose yards per game (123.3)...Fifth in the Pac-12 and first among freshmen in the FBS in rushing yards per game (98.7)...Broke free for a game-long 31-yard rush on a second-and-six on the Utah 29-yard line in the second quarter, finishing that drive with a one-yard rushing score to give Utah a 16-3 lead...Had a key six-yard rush for a first-down on a second-and-three on the OSU 12-yard line in the third quarter with the Utes scoring two plays later to take a 23-10 lead...Also nominated: Will Plummer, QB, Arizona; Chip Trayanum, RB, Arizona State; Ashaad Clayton, TB, Colorado; Noah Sewell, ILB, Oregon; Zeriah Beason, WR, Oregon State; Salim Turner-Muhammad, CB, Stanford; Max Williams, S, USC. - Pac-12 Football

(DS#999 RB) So/2024

RB Ty Jordan, Utah
News Source: Pac-12 Football
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12/07/20 - Jadon Redding, rSr/2024, Utah, 5-11, 194 (DS#999 K) + More +

DEC 7 PAC-12 SPECIAL TEAMS PLAYER OF THE WEEK: Jadon Redding, So., PK, Utah,...Scored 12 of Utah's 30 points in its win against Oregon State (30-24), knocking in a career-high tying three field goals with three PATs...Redding was a perfect 3-for-3 on both field goals and PATs against the Beavers...He scored the first nine points of the game on 33, 20 and 27-yard field goals...The performance was his third-career game with two-or-more field goals in a game...Has now gone 5-of-5 from 20-29 yards and is 7-of-9 from 30-39 yards in his career...Also nominated: Jamieson Sheahan, P, California; Jet Toner, K, Stanford. - Pac-12 Football

(DS#999 K) rSr/2024

K Jadon Redding, Utah
News Source: Pac-12 Football
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12/06/20 - Ty Jordan, So/2024, Utah, 5-07, 200 (DS#999 RB) + More +

Ty Jordan ran for a career-high 167 yards and a touchdown to help Utah survive a late rally and beat Oregon State 30-24 for its first win of the season. The Utes (1-2, 1-2 Pac-12) piled up 229 yards rushing to snap a two-game losing streak. Jake Bentley added 174 yards passing and a touchdown for Utah. Chance Nolan threw for 202 yards and a touchdown and added 36 yards rushing in his first career start. It wasn’t quite enough for the Beavers (2-3, 2-3 Pac-12) to overcome a sluggish start on offense.

Oregon State seized momentum as the fourth quarter progressed. The Beavers cut a 20-point deficit to six on Kolby Taylor’s 21-yard catch between two defenders with 5:07 left. Oregon State had a couple of chances to drive for a go-ahead touchdown. Nate Ritchie stopped Tyler for a 1-yard loss on 4th-and-1 at the Utah 31 to end the first threat. The Utes were forced to punt with 1:16 left, but Nolan’s fourth-down pass to Luke Musgrave fell incomplete with 21 seconds remaining. - Utah/AP College Football

(DS#999 RB) So/2024

RB Ty Jordan, Utah
News Source: Utah/AP College Football
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11/27/20 - Cameron Rising, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-2, 220 (DS#28 QB) + More +

Cameron Rising lasted all of 14 plays as the University of Utah's starting quarterback. Utah coach Kyle Whittingham opened his Tuesday morning Zoom press conference by announcing that Rising, a redshirt sophomore who won the starting job out of fall camp, is out for the season after sustaining a shoulder injury early in the second quarter of Saturday night's 33-17 season-opening loss to USC. Jake Bentley, who went 16-for-28 for 171 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in relief of Rising, will start this weekend The Utes were scheduled to play Arizona State on Sunday, but with the Sun Devils dealing with a COVID-19 outbreak, that game was canceled by the Pac-12 late Tuesday afternoon. The possibility exists that Utah will wind up playing Washington after its Apple Cup matchup at Washington State this weekend was canceled on Sunday. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#28 QB) rSr/2025

QB Cameron Rising, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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11/24/20 - Nephi Sewell, rJr/2022, Utah, 6-0, 224 (DS#24 OLB) + More +

The safety-turned-linebacker has long been slotted into that spot as a starter, but on Saturday, he essentially reverted back to safety. As Whittingham explained it, the Utes did not stick with their typical nickel package, which employs three cornerbacks and two safeties. For matchup purposes, they went with three safeties and two corners, with Sewell backing up into a safety spot for much of the night. Regardless of the position, Sewell had a big night. His 23 yard scoop-and-score off a Kedon Slovis fumble early in the second quarter tied the game at 10. He later picked off Slovis inside the Utah 15 after Jordan fumbled the ball at his own 23 a few plays earlier. Sewell finished with 10 tackles, two of which went for a loss, in addition to the fumble-recovery touchdown and the interception. "As a defense, I feel like we played really well," Sewell said. "There were obviously some mental mistakes; we have to clean those up. If we'd done that, personally, I feel like it would have been a way closer game." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#24 OLB) rJr/2022

OLB Nephi Sewell, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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11/22/20 - Munir McClain, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-3, 220 (DS#999 WR) + More +

Munir McClain, the suspended receiver at the center of a federal probe over pandemic unemployment benefits, and his brother, linebacker Abdul-Malik McClain, are leaving USC and will enter the NCAA transfer portal. The decision comes after a tumultuous few months that fractured the family's relationship with USC. In mid-September, Munir McClain was suspended from the football team with minimal explanation. Michael Blanton, USC's vice president of ethics and professionalism, later told his mother, Shan McClain, that Munir's name came up in conjunction with a complaint alleging unemployment fraud and identity theft at USC. A month later, federal investigators approached players on campus and asked about the sophomore. Munir McClain, who applied for and received pandemic unemployment assistance over the summer, maintains that he's done nothing wrong and that USC has yet to provide a full explanation for his suspension. - Los Angeles Times

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2025

WR Munir McClain, Utah
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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11/06/20 - Bronson Boyd, rSr/2022, Utah, 6-0, 187 (DS#999 CB) + More +

The University of Utah's already young, inexperienced secondary got even younger and more inexperienced late Monday afternoon. Redshirt junior cornerback Bronson Boyd has entered his name in the NCAA Transfer Portal, Utes head coach Kyle Whittingham confirmed on his weekly radio show Monday evening. Boyd's decision to transfer comes on the same day Utah released its first in-season depth chart. On it, Boyd is listed as a backup at one cornerback spot behind much-hyped four-star freshman Clark Phillips III. As expected, with Phillips at one cornerback spot, sophomore JT Broughton is penciled at the other cornerback spot, with sophomore Malone Mataele set to start at nickel. "That was disappointing," Whittingham said. "He was a great teammate, a great member of our program and he did everything we asked of him. For whatever reason, with Clark coming in and JT on the other side, maybe he thought there would be better opportunities elsewhere. I wish he stayed stayed with us and finished the season, but he had his mind made up." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#999 CB) rSr/2022

CB Bronson Boyd, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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10/28/20 - Munir McClain, rSr/2025, Utah, 6-3, 220 (DS#999 WR) + More +

USC wide receiver Munir McClain was on his way to an early morning workout Sept. 18 when he was told that coach Clay Helton needed to speak with him in his office. Two days earlier, Michael Blanton, USC's vice president of professionalism and ethics, had called McClain to question what he knew about unemployment benefits from California's Employment Development Department. Their conversation took place over two phone calls, and McClain went to physical therapy in between. In his office that Friday morning, Helton informed the sophomore wide receiver that he was being suspended. McClain still would be able to attend class, receive stipends and meals, rehabilitate his surgically repaired anterior cruciate ligament, and receive coronavirus testing from the university. But he would remain away from the football team until further notice.

A month later, two federal agents were at McClain's dormitory door and subpoenas were being issued for other USC football players in conjunction with a federal fraud probe. But as questions swirled around the nature of that investigation and McClain's role in the eyes of investigators, the specific cause for his suspension from USC's football team remains unclear. In a news conference in front of Galen Center on Sunday, his mother, Shan McClain, and Najee Ali, a local civil rights activist, said that no specific explanation had been given. - Los Angeles Times

(DS#999 WR) rSr/2025

WR Munir McClain, Utah
News Source: Los Angeles Times
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10/23/20 - Mika Tafua, rSr/2022, Utah, 6-3, 249 (DS#27 DE) + More +

Three will eventually become four and that would make it 100% for Utah's starting defensive line in 2019. That's what Utah coach Kyle Whittingham says about the guys who did the work up front on a defense that ranked second nationally in total defense (269.2 ypg), third in rush defense (81.8 ypg) and sixth in scoring defense (15 ppg) last season. Seniors Bradlee Anae, Leki Fotu and John Penisini went on to be drafted by the NFL. Fotu went to the Arizona Cardinals in the fourth round; Anae was taken by the Dallas Cowboys in the fifth; and the Detroit Lions picked Penisini in the sixth. Eventually, Whittingham predicts, the fourth starter on that line will join them. Defensive end Mika Tafua, who is back with the Utes, is progressing in that direction. He was tied for second in the nation with four fumble recoveries as a sophomore. Now he's a veteran, joining linebacker Devin Lloyd as the only returning starters for the Utah defense.

"He is an NFL guy in my opinion," Whittingham said. "He is just a junior, but he has what it takes to play at the next level." Tafua, a 6-foot-3, 250-pound force from Laie, Hawaii, earned honorable mention all-conference honors from the Pac-12 after making 47 tackles (8.5 for loss with three sacks) on a Utah team that repeated as South Division champions. He has played in 25 games during the past two seasons - doing so after joining the Utes and redshirting following a two-year church mission to Tacoma, Washington. Tafua originally signed with BYU. "He is a great leader for us. He was voted captain, so that is what his peers think of him and how much respect he has from them," said Whittingham, who added that Tafua has been a tremendous player since arriving at Utah. "Right now, he is the leader of that defensive line." - Deseret News

(DS#27 DE) rSr/2022

DE Mika Tafua, Utah
News Source: Deseret News
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10/23/20 - Nephi Sewell, rJr/2022, Utah, 6-0, 224 (DS#24 OLB) + More +

Kyle Whittingham has said that Nephi Sewell is the "odds-on favorite" to start at linebacker opposite Devin Lloyd. The University of Utah football coach dropped that tidbit regarding the redshirt junior during an ESPN700 interview on Oct. 2, one week before fall camp began. The Utes practiced for the ninth time on Monday. In that time, they have been in full pads in a small handful of sessions and conducted a live scrimmage on Saturday afternoon. With the benefit of some film since camp began, Whittingham and linebackers coach Colton Swan are now in a better position to decide whether or not Sewell, who is transitioning from safety to linebacker, can start immediately when the season begins Nov. 7 vs. Arizona at Rice-Eccles Stadium.

"He's a really savvy football player," Swan said Monday on a Zoom call with reporters. "He's starting to see the blocking schemes in front of him and fitting correctly. He's making great strides and I'm really happy with where he's at. It's still a competition amongst him and the rest of the guys, but really satisfied with how he's handling what's being put on his plate." Added Whittingham: "He's made the transition, really very smoothly, from safety to linebacker, and this is really where he belongs. He seems much more comfortable and his element in the box rather than the safety position." - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#24 OLB) rJr/2022

OLB Nephi Sewell, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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10/17/20 - TJ Pledger, Sr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 192 (DS#46 RB) + More +

OU junior TJ Pledger made his biggest impact on the Sooners' rushing attack in a 53-45 win over Texas on Saturday. In 2019, Pledger recorded just 65 yards on 11 carries in 10 appearances. On Saturday, Pledger gashed Texas' defense for a career day of 131 yards on 22 carries and two touchdowns. "It was definitely a surreal moment," Pledger said. "I was just thankful that I could showcase my talent on a national scale and really the biggest thing was seeing my family's reaction after the game. It was really a reaction I hadn't seen from them since high school. It really warmed my heart."

Pledger, a former four-star recruit and U.S. Army All-American, has played sparingly over his three-year career, waiting for his turn behind the likes of Kennedy Brooks and Trey Sermon. Now as OU's most veteran option, Pledger knows how important it is for him to perform at a high level, especially in a game like the Red River rivalry. "Understanding the history of the rivalry game, and understanding the tradition of OU running backs, it's always important to show up in the Red River rivalry and understanding how important the run game will be in the outcome of the game," Pledger said. Pledger led all rushers during Saturday's showdown, helping OU post 208 yards on the ground to Texas' 141. He credited OU's offensive line for making it happen, and they seemed just as pleased by Pledger's efforts. - Norman Transcript

(DS#46 RB) Sr/2022

RB TJ Pledger, Utah
News Source: Norman Transcript
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10/16/20 - Jaylen Dixon, rSr/2023, Utah, 5-09, 169 (DS#154 WR) + More +

A deep stable of pass-catching options at the University of Utah is now smaller by one. Jaylen Dixon, a redshirt junior slot receiver, announced Monday afternoon he has entered his name into the NCAA Transfer Portal. A three-star recruit in Utah's 2017 recruiting class, Dixon took a redshirt in 2017, then caught 56 passes for 932 yards and three touchdowns across the 2018 and 2019 seasons. The return of a healthy Britain Covey to Utah's offense may have helped fuel Dixon's departure. Covey, a redshirt junior, has 113 catches for 1,233 yards and five touchdowns in 29 career games. The Provo native will figure very prominently in the Utes' offense this fall. Utes offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig was saying as much Friday morning, hours before training camp opened. - Salt Lake Tribune

(DS#154 WR) rSr/2023

WR Jaylen Dixon, Utah
News Source: Salt Lake Tribune
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10/16/20 - TJ Pledger, Sr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 192 (DS#46 RB) + More +

OU relied on TJ Pledger and Marcus Major to handle running back responsibilities with Seth McGowan sidelined with an undisclosed injury. The inexperienced tailbacks delivered. "They had some really tough runs," Riley said. "They both made some big-time plays. They are two young guys who are going to continue to grow and get better and better." Pledger led the way with 131 yards rushing on 22 carries. He had two touchdowns and broke off a long of 26. Major finished with 43 yards on 12 carries and scored one of OU's four rushing touchdowns against the Longhorns. Rattler had the other. - Norman Transcript

(DS#46 RB) Sr/2022

RB TJ Pledger, Utah
News Source: Norman Transcript
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10/12/20 - TJ Pledger, Sr/2022, Utah, 5-08, 192 (DS#46 RB) + More +

OCT 12 BIG 12 OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE WEEK: T.J. Pledger, RB, Jr., Oklahoma,...Oklahoma's T.J. Pledger rushed 22 times for career highs of 131 yards and two touchdowns, as Oklahoma beat No. 22 Texas 53-45 in the Red River Showdown. He also registered a pair of receptions for 24 yards. His touchdowns came in the third quarter on 2- and 1-yard runs to give the Sooners a 31-17 cushion. - Big 12 Football

(DS#46 RB) Sr/2022

RB TJ Pledger, Utah
News Source: Big 12 Football
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