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The University of Utah Athletics
The Lowdown: Secondary
6/12/2018 3:31 PM | Football
This summer, UtahUtes.com will feature "The Lowdown" on each position group on the field. The Utes return experience at every position in the secondary this fall. With four returning starters and some newcomers looking to turn heads, Utah's secondary is in good hands heading into the 2018 season.
THE LOWDOWN: CORNERBACK
Fast and athletic. Those are just a few of the words to describe Utah's cornerback squad heading into the 2018 season. With a combination of experienced veterans and explosive newcomers, the Utah cornerbacks are ready to for a standout year.
"We have a lot going for us at the corner position: size, speed, athleticism, experience and depth," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Our corners love the challenge of playing the high dose of man-to-man coverage that has remained a staple for us through the years."
All-America candidate Julian Blackmon (6-1, 190, Jr.) stepped into the spotlight as a sophomore in 2017, earning All-Pac-12 second-team honors. After racking up 48 tackles and a team-high tying six pass breakups last season, the Layton, Utah, native concluded the year with Heart of Dallas Bowl MVP and Associated Press and ESPN All-Bowl team honors.
Jaylon Johnson will make his return to the gridiron after playing in 12 games last season as a true freshman. He tied for the team lead in pass breakups (6) and was second on the team in passes defended (7), also recording 25 tackles.
Another underclassman in Javelin K. Guidry will look to return as Utah's starting nickel back. Guidry started in four games last season and saw action in all 13 as a freshman, notching 31 tackles and five passes defended (4 PBU, 1 INT).
Also looking to get playing time this fall is newcomer Tareke Lewis (5-11, 180, Jr.), who transferred from Riverside Community College and made the two-deep at nickel this spring. He was a first-team All-SCFA National Division Central League cornerback at Riverside.
THE LOWDOWN: SAFETY
Similar to the corner position, the safeties are bringing a surplus of talent and experience to the field this fall. Whittingham uses the word "physical" to describe this year's secondary and with two starters returning, Utah fans will get to see just that at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2018.
"Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard are proven commodities for us at the safety position and provide a physical presence to our secondary," Whittingham said. "Their backups Philip Afia and Terrell Burgess have both seen extensive action and give us good depth at the position."
Blair, who's tackles you could hear for miles, will hit the turf after playing in nine games with six starts in 2017. Despite missing the final four games of the season with an injury, Blair had 48 tackles, which was third on the team at the time.
Ballard, like Blair a starter as a JC transfer last year, has good size and skills at free safety. In his first year with the Utes, Ballard played in all 13 games with 10 starts, finishing with 45 tackles and was second on the team in interceptions (2).
Afia and Burgess both played in all 13 games last season, seeing extensive playing time in the secondary. Afia had 18 tackles and two pass breakups while Burgess recorded 18 tackles as well, including a tackle for loss.
Vonte Davis also got the attention of the Utah coaches this spring after transferring from Blinn College. He was an NJCAA All-American, also earning first-team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors.
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THE LOWDOWN: CORNERBACK
Fast and athletic. Those are just a few of the words to describe Utah's cornerback squad heading into the 2018 season. With a combination of experienced veterans and explosive newcomers, the Utah cornerbacks are ready to for a standout year.
"We have a lot going for us at the corner position: size, speed, athleticism, experience and depth," head coach Kyle Whittingham said. "Our corners love the challenge of playing the high dose of man-to-man coverage that has remained a staple for us through the years."
All-America candidate Julian Blackmon (6-1, 190, Jr.) stepped into the spotlight as a sophomore in 2017, earning All-Pac-12 second-team honors. After racking up 48 tackles and a team-high tying six pass breakups last season, the Layton, Utah, native concluded the year with Heart of Dallas Bowl MVP and Associated Press and ESPN All-Bowl team honors.
Jaylon Johnson will make his return to the gridiron after playing in 12 games last season as a true freshman. He tied for the team lead in pass breakups (6) and was second on the team in passes defended (7), also recording 25 tackles.
Another underclassman in Javelin K. Guidry will look to return as Utah's starting nickel back. Guidry started in four games last season and saw action in all 13 as a freshman, notching 31 tackles and five passes defended (4 PBU, 1 INT).
Also looking to get playing time this fall is newcomer Tareke Lewis (5-11, 180, Jr.), who transferred from Riverside Community College and made the two-deep at nickel this spring. He was a first-team All-SCFA National Division Central League cornerback at Riverside.
THE LOWDOWN: SAFETY
Similar to the corner position, the safeties are bringing a surplus of talent and experience to the field this fall. Whittingham uses the word "physical" to describe this year's secondary and with two starters returning, Utah fans will get to see just that at Rice-Eccles Stadium in 2018.
"Marquise Blair and Corrion Ballard are proven commodities for us at the safety position and provide a physical presence to our secondary," Whittingham said. "Their backups Philip Afia and Terrell Burgess have both seen extensive action and give us good depth at the position."
Blair, who's tackles you could hear for miles, will hit the turf after playing in nine games with six starts in 2017. Despite missing the final four games of the season with an injury, Blair had 48 tackles, which was third on the team at the time.
Ballard, like Blair a starter as a JC transfer last year, has good size and skills at free safety. In his first year with the Utes, Ballard played in all 13 games with 10 starts, finishing with 45 tackles and was second on the team in interceptions (2).
Afia and Burgess both played in all 13 games last season, seeing extensive playing time in the secondary. Afia had 18 tackles and two pass breakups while Burgess recorded 18 tackles as well, including a tackle for loss.
Vonte Davis also got the attention of the Utah coaches this spring after transferring from Blinn College. He was an NJCAA All-American, also earning first-team All-Southwest Junior College Football Conference honors.
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