Positional Needs

[Anonymous]

I recognize that we have been super active in the portal. However with what has been done, where do we all stand with depth? Where are we still needing help? Who are some portal guys that are available that us armchair recruiters would like to see fill in?

[UteButters]

So far this is how I see the offense shaking out with the new additions.

QB:
1. Devon Dampier
2. Brendan Zurbrugg
3. Nate Johnson
4. Jamarian Ficklin
*Isaac Wilson (RS)

RB:
1. Wayshawn Parker
2. NaQuari Rogers
3. Hunter Andrews
4. Devin Green

WR-X:
1. Zacharyus Williams
2. Otto Tia
3. Luca Calderella

WR-Y:
1. Creed Whittemore
2. Ryan Davis
3. Nate Johnson

WR-Z:
1. Daidren Zipperer
2. Justin Stevenson
3. Rayshawn Glover
4. David Washington

TE:
1. Landen King
2. Dallen Bentley
3. JJ Buchanan

To answer your question … I think Utah could benefit from 1 more running back! I think that’s our biggest need on the Offensive side!

[Tednab]

A new AD that can get us some NIL would be a start

[Rick]

Terrific list to review. One omission – Raycine Guillory at running back. He’s a four-star incoming freshman whose offer sheet looks like a who’s who of college football. I know we’ve been disappointed in freshmen running backs for a few years so we’ll see; but he looks more the part physically. I think there is one more freshman as well but I don’t remember his name.

[Charlie]

Guillory may be a development player, however, it is not often we see someone with 25 power 4 offers. Will be interesting to see the spring roster.

[AlohaUte]

How’s the OL looking?

[UteButters]

That’s a good point Rick! The only hesitation I have with Guillory is that he’s 17 years old … he reclassified to this class to graduate from high school early!

That said, he absolutely has the skillset and ability to play and play early! I think it’ll depend on his adjustment to the college level. Worst case he plays sparingly and we redshirt him.

I think Hunter Andrews is going to sneak up on people. He’s very very athletic and with an offseason at running back I wouldn’t be surprised to see him get meaningful reps next year!

[Yergensen]

I’m with Rick, Guillory is a talent we should all be excited about. Many blue blood offers. Tape is great, north south runner, burst, vision. Talent plays, don’t care about age.

[UteButters]

The offensive line should be the strength of the offense for Utah next year. We return all of our starters from last year. This is how I see the pecking order play out.

I think there’s a lot of flexibility with Ike. In my opinion he’s the first lineman off the bench regardless of position.

LT:
1. Caleb Lomu
2. Zereoue Williams

LG:
1. Tanoa Togiai
2. Keith Olson

C:
1. Jaren Kump
2. Ike Garcia

RG:
1. Michael Mokofisis
2. Solatoa Moeai

RT:
1. Spencer Fano
2. Kalolo Ta’aga (TRANSFER FROM USC)

[22Ute22]

Can’t believe we’re still gonna have Mokofisi SMH.

[silverliningsurfer]

As much as I think that the game is so obviously pass-heavy and being able to effectively throw the ball is important, if they can have a strong OL along with a decent RB room and mobile QB, I think they will be able to run all over this conference. B12 does not play defense.

I’m withholding on Dampier as I don’t think he’ll run for 1k yards in a P4 conference, but if he can run for a few hundred and throw play action effectively based on his running threat, we could be in business on offense. That said, we desperately need to make sure our Strength and Conditioning staff keep him healthy.

[UteButters]

I wouldn’t be surprised to see Garcia work his way into a starting role, specifically that right guard spot.

[UteButters]

How do we see the defense shaping up? I’ve thought a lot about it and this is what I think will happen …

I’ve heard a lot of good things about Kash Dillon and wouldn’t be shocked if he’s starting … obviously we need one more DT from the portal but I expect Kaufusi and Sepulona to get some reps as freshman.

I personally expect Cyrus Polu to get some reps at linebacker. Absolutely love his film.

The defense obviously has a lot of new names but i personally love the pieces they’ve brought in. Thoughts?

DE:
1. Logan Fano
2. Lance Holtzclaw (WASHINGTON TRANSFER)
3. Jaxson Jones (OREGON TRANSFER)

DT:
1. Aliki Vimahi
2. Jonah Le’eah
3. Pupualii Sepulona (FRESHMAN)

DT:
1. Dallas Vakalahi
2.
3. Karson Kaufusi (FRESHMAN)

DE:
1. John Henry-Daley
2. Kash Dillon
3. Paul Fitzgerald

R-LB:
1. Jonathan Hall
2. Cyrus Polu (FRESHMAN)
3. Kanai Lopes

M-LB:
1. Levani Damuni
2. Trey Reynolds

S-LB:
1. Lander Barton
2. Christian Thatcher (FRESHMAN)

NB:
1. Smith Snowden
2. Quimari Shemwell

CORNER:
1. Elijah Davis
2. Blake Cotton

CORNER:
1. Jeremiah Caldwell
2. Donovan Saunders
*Kenan Johnson will contribute at some point

FS:
1. Tao Johnson
2. Nate Ritchie

SS:
1. Rabbit Evan’s
2. Jeilani Davis
3. Nathan Tilmon (FRESHMAN)

[Charlie]

I think spots can be won in the spring and with so many new guys, who is at spring practice will have impact. I am wondering if Kaufusi will be inside or outside. There is lots of young LB talent but I expect Barton and Damuni to be the ones we see most the time. If any of the young talent has cover skills they could see time at SS. Johnson will start at CB as he did last year when healthy. Utah has always been willing to play new or young guys in the secondary when they see talent so there may be a surprise. I don’t know Cotton’s background but I don’t think we would bring in an upper classman if we did not think he is ready to help. I would have expected to see a DL transfer given the DL players that left. Since we have not been thin at DL for some time I expect there is something I am not seeing. Maybe this position will be a portal priority in the late spring portal.

[Charlie]

We have been thin recruiting DL players that are around 300 lbs for a couple of years. Odd because for years we have been deep with this need. Raass may be a RM coming in at some point but may take some time warming up. The two we lost to the portal, at this point, would appear to have created a problem in the middle. Currently, we have no backups in the middle that could start for USC.

[UteButters]

No doubt Utah has to add 1-2 more DT’s through the portal but the cupboard isn’t bare.

Vakalahi is an absolute stud and will be a major player for Utah.

Vimahi is proven and has played in some huge games for Utah.

Jonah Lea’ea is the wild card to me. Recruited as a linebacker a few years ago. Redshirted 2023, played a few snaps that year. Played in most the games last year but was playing at 265 lbs. IF he can get his weight around 290 he’s your first DT off the bench. The coaches love him and his skillset, just needs the weight. He’s trending in the right direction weight wise.

We recruited a handful of DT’s so I expect 1-2 of them to get some snaps this year as well.

It’s not a finished room, but it’ll be a fun room to monitor through spring ball.

[UteButters]

Karson Kaufusi is listed as a DT on the 2025 roster … and is weighing 286 lbs. Great news for the DT room.

https://utahutes.com/sports/football/roster?sort=jersey

[Author]

Posts