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The University of Utah Athletics
Spring Football: Tight End/Offensive Line Preview
4/5/2018 3:57 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY - Another practice is in the books today as Utah football hit the field for the 11th practice of the spring season. The Utes will have three more practices before the annual Red White Game on Saturday, April 14th at 11 a.m.
As the spring season winds down, head coach Kyle Whittingham has seen improvement in his squad from top to bottom, including in the offensive line and at the tight end position. Four of Utah's five starters on the offensive line will return to the gridiron this fall in Jackson Barton, Lo Falemaka, Jordan Agasiva and Darrin Paulo. Although the tight end group lost two regulars in Harrison Handley and Siale Fakailoatonga, several experienced Utes are ready to step in and make an impact.
Offensive line coach and second-year assistant head coach Jim Harding has had a habit of producing top offensive line talent here at Utah with five NFL draft picks coming through his ranks, including four in 2016. Because of Harding's linemen clearing holes in the opposing defense, Utah has had a thousand-yard rusher in the last four seasons.
Previewing the Spring Depth Chart...
LT #70 Jackson Barton (6-7 | 302 | Sr. | Salt Lake City, Utah)
Has played in 39 games at Utah (30 on the line with 15 starts) ... ranked second on the offensive line in 2017 in total plays ... team-high eight cuts last season.
2017 Highlights: Career-best three cuts against BYU.
Fun Fact: Comes from a long line of successful Utah athletes. Father, Paul, played football and baseball for Utah; mother, Mikki Kane-Barton, is a member of the Utah's Crimson Club Hall of Fame and was a two-time honorable mention All-America basketball player for the Utes. Younger brother, Cody, is a linebacker for the Utes.
LT #60 Keven Dixon (6-5 | 290 | Jr. | Buena Park, Calif.)
Has played on the scout teams the last two seasons after coming from Buena Park High School ... was first-team All-CIF Southwest Division as a senior ... first-team all-league and second-team all-county.
Fun Fact: Majoring in sociology.
LG #65 Paul Toala (6-4 | 324, Jr. | Burien, Wash.)
Played in all 13 games in 2017 ... played in 132 snaps during the regular season on the offensive line ... can play at center or guard.
2017 Highlights: Season-best 59 snaps against UCLA.
Fun Fact: Was a state qualifier for both the shot put and discus in high school.
LG #50 Orlando Umana (6-4 | 321 | So. | Sacramento, Calif.)
Played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2017 on special teams, seeing action on the offensive line in three games ... was a midyear graduate enrolled in the spring of 2017.
2017 Highlights: Season-high 11 snaps and a cut against San Jose State.
Fun Fact: Has two brothers and one sister.
C #69 Lo Falemaka (6-5 | 295 | Sr. | West Valley City, Utah)
Received a medical extension for the 2018 season ... was a one-time walk-on that has developed into an honorable mention All-Pac-12 center ... started all 13 games last season.
2017 Highlights: Was third on the offensive line in total plays.
Fun Fact: Plays the guitar.
C #66 Kyle Lanterman (6-2 | 299 | Jr. | Long Beach, Calif.)
Is a walk-on that can play both center and guard ... saw action against UCLA and West Virginia last season ... was an all-league offensive lineman at Woodrow Wilson High School.
2017 Highlights: Played four snaps against UCLA.
Fun Fact: Played rugby in high school.
RG #79 Jordan Agasiva (6-3 | 320 | Sr. | Kalihi, Hawaii)
Started at right guard in 2017 in his first NCAA season ... was a first-team all-region at Pima Community College as a sophomore ... two-time first-team All-Arizona community college athletic conference selection.
2017 Highlights: 503 total plays during the regular season.
Fun Fact: He works on cars for a hobby.
RG #53 Alani Havili-Katoa (6-3 | 303 | Sr. | Stansbury Park, Utah)
Played in eight games last season including seven appearances on the line before missing the final four games with an injury ... started against Oregon and UCLA ... played defense up until the 2017 fall camp.
2017 Highlights: Season-best 69 snaps against Oregon.
Fun Fact: Is a double major in economics and sociology.
RT #55 Nick Ford (6-5 | 315 | Fr. | San Pedro, Calif.)
Played on the offensive and defensive line at San Pedro High School ... was Marine League Defensive Player of the Year and CIF-LA City Section Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2016.
Fun Fact: Enjoys piano, guitar, science, surfing and horseback riding.
RT #68 Mo Unutoa (6-4 | 295 | Fr. | Kapaa, Hawaii)
Redshirted last season ... became the first player from Kapaa High School to earn first-team all-state honors his senior season ... two-time All-Hawaii Division II selection.
Fun Fact: His father played seven seasons in the NFL for the Eagles, Buccaneers and Bills.
TE #44 Jake Jackson (6-3 | 237 | Jr. | Encinitas, Calif.)
After making the switch from linebacker he played in all 13 games in 2017 (nine games as a tight end) ... started against Colorado ... three catches for 46 yards ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic.
2017 Highlights: Season-best 39-yard catch against Washington.
Fun Fact: Served an LDS church mission in San Antonio, Texas.
TE #88 Bapa Falemaka (6-3 | 251 | So. | Grantsville, Utah)
Earned a scholarship after walking on in 2016 ... played in four games last season at tight end ... was a three-sport athlete at Judge Memorial High School (track, football, basketball).
Fun Fact: Cousin is senior offensive lineman Lo Falemaka.
As the spring season winds down, head coach Kyle Whittingham has seen improvement in his squad from top to bottom, including in the offensive line and at the tight end position. Four of Utah's five starters on the offensive line will return to the gridiron this fall in Jackson Barton, Lo Falemaka, Jordan Agasiva and Darrin Paulo. Although the tight end group lost two regulars in Harrison Handley and Siale Fakailoatonga, several experienced Utes are ready to step in and make an impact.
Offensive line coach and second-year assistant head coach Jim Harding has had a habit of producing top offensive line talent here at Utah with five NFL draft picks coming through his ranks, including four in 2016. Because of Harding's linemen clearing holes in the opposing defense, Utah has had a thousand-yard rusher in the last four seasons.
Previewing the Spring Depth Chart...
LT #70 Jackson Barton (6-7 | 302 | Sr. | Salt Lake City, Utah)
Has played in 39 games at Utah (30 on the line with 15 starts) ... ranked second on the offensive line in 2017 in total plays ... team-high eight cuts last season.
2017 Highlights: Career-best three cuts against BYU.
Fun Fact: Comes from a long line of successful Utah athletes. Father, Paul, played football and baseball for Utah; mother, Mikki Kane-Barton, is a member of the Utah's Crimson Club Hall of Fame and was a two-time honorable mention All-America basketball player for the Utes. Younger brother, Cody, is a linebacker for the Utes.
LT #60 Keven Dixon (6-5 | 290 | Jr. | Buena Park, Calif.)
Has played on the scout teams the last two seasons after coming from Buena Park High School ... was first-team All-CIF Southwest Division as a senior ... first-team all-league and second-team all-county.
Fun Fact: Majoring in sociology.
LG #65 Paul Toala (6-4 | 324, Jr. | Burien, Wash.)
Played in all 13 games in 2017 ... played in 132 snaps during the regular season on the offensive line ... can play at center or guard.
2017 Highlights: Season-best 59 snaps against UCLA.
Fun Fact: Was a state qualifier for both the shot put and discus in high school.
LG #50 Orlando Umana (6-4 | 321 | So. | Sacramento, Calif.)
Played in all 13 games as a true freshman in 2017 on special teams, seeing action on the offensive line in three games ... was a midyear graduate enrolled in the spring of 2017.
2017 Highlights: Season-high 11 snaps and a cut against San Jose State.
Fun Fact: Has two brothers and one sister.
C #69 Lo Falemaka (6-5 | 295 | Sr. | West Valley City, Utah)
Received a medical extension for the 2018 season ... was a one-time walk-on that has developed into an honorable mention All-Pac-12 center ... started all 13 games last season.
2017 Highlights: Was third on the offensive line in total plays.
Fun Fact: Plays the guitar.
C #66 Kyle Lanterman (6-2 | 299 | Jr. | Long Beach, Calif.)
Is a walk-on that can play both center and guard ... saw action against UCLA and West Virginia last season ... was an all-league offensive lineman at Woodrow Wilson High School.
2017 Highlights: Played four snaps against UCLA.
Fun Fact: Played rugby in high school.
RG #79 Jordan Agasiva (6-3 | 320 | Sr. | Kalihi, Hawaii)
Started at right guard in 2017 in his first NCAA season ... was a first-team all-region at Pima Community College as a sophomore ... two-time first-team All-Arizona community college athletic conference selection.
2017 Highlights: 503 total plays during the regular season.
Fun Fact: He works on cars for a hobby.
RG #53 Alani Havili-Katoa (6-3 | 303 | Sr. | Stansbury Park, Utah)
Played in eight games last season including seven appearances on the line before missing the final four games with an injury ... started against Oregon and UCLA ... played defense up until the 2017 fall camp.
2017 Highlights: Season-best 69 snaps against Oregon.
Fun Fact: Is a double major in economics and sociology.
RT #55 Nick Ford (6-5 | 315 | Fr. | San Pedro, Calif.)
Played on the offensive and defensive line at San Pedro High School ... was Marine League Defensive Player of the Year and CIF-LA City Section Division I Offensive Lineman of the Year in 2016.
Fun Fact: Enjoys piano, guitar, science, surfing and horseback riding.
RT #68 Mo Unutoa (6-4 | 295 | Fr. | Kapaa, Hawaii)
Redshirted last season ... became the first player from Kapaa High School to earn first-team all-state honors his senior season ... two-time All-Hawaii Division II selection.
Fun Fact: His father played seven seasons in the NFL for the Eagles, Buccaneers and Bills.
TE #44 Jake Jackson (6-3 | 237 | Jr. | Encinitas, Calif.)
After making the switch from linebacker he played in all 13 games in 2017 (nine games as a tight end) ... started against Colorado ... three catches for 46 yards ... honorable mention Pac-12 All-Academic.
2017 Highlights: Season-best 39-yard catch against Washington.
Fun Fact: Served an LDS church mission in San Antonio, Texas.
TE #88 Bapa Falemaka (6-3 | 251 | So. | Grantsville, Utah)
Earned a scholarship after walking on in 2016 ... played in four games last season at tight end ... was a three-sport athlete at Judge Memorial High School (track, football, basketball).
Fun Fact: Cousin is senior offensive lineman Lo Falemaka.
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