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The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Steve C. Wilson
Fresh Faces: 2019 Linebackers Preview
6/4/2019 2:47 PM | Football
It is typical in college football to have certain question marks surrounding a position after a large graduating class, or a successful NFL Draft year, and that was no different for Utah's linebacker group heading into the spring season. Fast forward to this summer, and Colton Swan and Kyle Whittingham have reloaded the group with talented signees and veteran transfers that has changed that question mark into an exclamation point to complete Utah's front seven. Â
After a Pac-12 title game run last season and less than 100 days till the 2019 schedule kicks off, the atmosphere surrounding the program is electric. But after losing two starters and only returning two linebackers in spring ball that had seen game action (Francis Bernard, Devin Lloyd), the questions started surrounding the position group.
The Utes currently have 10 athletes listed on the 2019 roster in the linebacker group, but with fresh faces comes tenacity and resiliency – something Utah football has built its defensive attitude on.
Returning Lettermen (2)
Redshirts (3)
Newcomers/Transfers (3)
Other Returners (2)
Quick Hits On Select 2019 Linebackers:
Francis Bernard | SR | Herriman, Utah
Projected to start in 2019 after playing in 12 games with two starts in 2018 … transferred from BYU where he played from 2015-16 … 38 total tackles (5.0 TFL) in 2018 at Utah … career-high 10 tackles that included 3.0 tackles for loss against Colorado … second on the team with eight tackles against BYU to end the regular season.
Devin Lloyd | SO | Chula Vista, Calif.
Played in all 14 games last season on special teams with appearances at linebacker against Weber State, Washington State and Colorado … four tackles against Colorado … redshirted in 2017 after earning All-CIF San Diego Section and all-league at Otay Ranch HS.
Sione Lund | SO | Holladay, Utah
Returned to his home state after transferring from Stanford, but had to sit a year in residency in 2018 … was a four-star recruit out of Brighton HS as a running back, also ranked the No. 1 fullback in the nation by ESPN and No. 9 running back nationally by Rivals and 247Sports … three-time all-state, all-region team selections.
Andrew Mata'afa | R-FR | San Diego, Calif.
Projected in the top-three at rover linebacker entering fall camp after redshirting in 2018 … three-star recruit out of Mt. Carmel HS … was a three-sport athlete, also playing basketball and earning all-CIF San Diego Section in volleyball … cousin, Hercules Mata'afa was the 2017 AP Defensive Player of the Year for Washington State.
Manny Bowen | SR | Barnegat, N.J.
Graduate transfer from Penn State is projected to start in 2019 … played in 35 games with 21 starts at Penn State from 2015-17 … 51 tackles (3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) ranked fifth on the team in 2017 … had 68 tackles in 2016 that included 8.5 tackles for loss … Class B South Defensive Player of the Year as a junior at Barnegat HS.
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After a Pac-12 title game run last season and less than 100 days till the 2019 schedule kicks off, the atmosphere surrounding the program is electric. But after losing two starters and only returning two linebackers in spring ball that had seen game action (Francis Bernard, Devin Lloyd), the questions started surrounding the position group.
The Utes currently have 10 athletes listed on the 2019 roster in the linebacker group, but with fresh faces comes tenacity and resiliency – something Utah football has built its defensive attitude on.
Returning Lettermen (2)
| Francis Bernard | Sr. | 6-0, 240 (Herriman, Utah) |
| Devin Lloyd | So. | 6-3, 235 (Chula Vista, Calif.) |
Redshirts (3)
| Quinn Fabrizio | R-Fr. | 6-3, 230 (Sandy, Utah) |
| Sione Lund | So. (TR) | 6-0, 235 (Holladay, Utah) |
| Andrew Mata'afa | R-Fr. | 6-3, 225 (San Diego, Calif. |
Newcomers/Transfers (3)
| Manny Bowen | Sr. | 6-2, 235 (Barnegat, N.J.) |
| Trennan Carlson | Jr. | 6-2, 245 (Ventura, Calif.) |
| TJ Taimi | Fr. | 6-3, 187 (Santa Clara, Utah) |
Other Returners (2)
| Moroni Anae | Jr. | 6-1, 235 (San Diego, Calif.) |
| Samu Elisaia | Jr. | 6-0, 235 (South Jordan, Utah) |
Quick Hits On Select 2019 Linebackers:
Francis Bernard | SR | Herriman, Utah
Projected to start in 2019 after playing in 12 games with two starts in 2018 … transferred from BYU where he played from 2015-16 … 38 total tackles (5.0 TFL) in 2018 at Utah … career-high 10 tackles that included 3.0 tackles for loss against Colorado … second on the team with eight tackles against BYU to end the regular season.
Devin Lloyd | SO | Chula Vista, Calif.
Played in all 14 games last season on special teams with appearances at linebacker against Weber State, Washington State and Colorado … four tackles against Colorado … redshirted in 2017 after earning All-CIF San Diego Section and all-league at Otay Ranch HS.
Sione Lund | SO | Holladay, Utah
Returned to his home state after transferring from Stanford, but had to sit a year in residency in 2018 … was a four-star recruit out of Brighton HS as a running back, also ranked the No. 1 fullback in the nation by ESPN and No. 9 running back nationally by Rivals and 247Sports … three-time all-state, all-region team selections.
Andrew Mata'afa | R-FR | San Diego, Calif.
Projected in the top-three at rover linebacker entering fall camp after redshirting in 2018 … three-star recruit out of Mt. Carmel HS … was a three-sport athlete, also playing basketball and earning all-CIF San Diego Section in volleyball … cousin, Hercules Mata'afa was the 2017 AP Defensive Player of the Year for Washington State.
Manny Bowen | SR | Barnegat, N.J.
Graduate transfer from Penn State is projected to start in 2019 … played in 35 games with 21 starts at Penn State from 2015-17 … 51 tackles (3.5 TFL, 1.5 sacks) ranked fifth on the team in 2017 … had 68 tackles in 2016 that included 8.5 tackles for loss … Class B South Defensive Player of the Year as a junior at Barnegat HS.
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