Pac-12 Media Day on July 24 Leads into Camp

Photo by: Steve C. Wilson

7/22/2019 4:20 PM | Football

2019 Utah Football Media Guide Media Day Notes

Pac-12 Media Day	July 24, 2019
Location	Hollywood & Highland, Hollywood, Calif.
South Division (Utah) Schedule:
8 a.m. - Noon PDT	TV partners ESPN/FOX/Pac-12 Networks
1:30-4:30 p.m. PDT	Main Stage, Local Radio/TV/Print/P12N Live

Football Media Day Kicks off 2019
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, defensive end Bradlee Anae and running back Zack Moss will represent the Utah football team at 2019 Pac-12 Football Media Day on Wednesday, July 24, in Hollywood, Calif. The Pac-12 Networks will cover and for Utah-specific content, follow @utahathletics (#GoUtes) on Twitter and Instagram.

Kyle's Corner
Kyle Whittingham, the longest-tenured head coach in the Pac-12 Conference and the third-longest tenured coach at the same school in the NCAA FBS, begins for his 15th season at the helm at Utah, where he boasts a 120-61 record. Legendary for his postseason success, Whittingham boasts the second-best bowl win percentage in NCAA history (84%). His 11 bowl wins (11-2) ties him for second among active coaches and ranks in the top-10 all-time (including ties). Whittingham is in his 26th season on the Utah coaching staff, beginning in 1994 as the defensive line coach.

Honor Candidates Represent at Media Day
Senior defensive end Bradlee Anae (6-3, 265, Laie, Hawaii) and senior running back Zack Moss (5-10, 222, Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) are the Ute players attending the 2019 Pac-12 Football Media Day.

Anae earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors last season when he led the Pac-12 with eight sacks while his 15.5 tackles for loss tied for third in the league. He is majoring in family, community and human devel opment with an emphasis in financial planning.
Moss' 2,651 career rushing yards ranks fifth among active players, leads the Pac-12 and ranks fourth in school history. He earned second-team Pac-12 honors last year following an injury-shortened season that still saw him rush for 1,096 yards, good for sixth in the Pac-12. Moss is one of four players in Utah history with two 1,000- yard rushing seasons (1,173 in 2017). A communication major, he is on track to receive his degree in December, 2019.

This and That
The clear bag policy will continue to be enforced at Utah athletic events held at Rice-Eccles Stadium and the Huntsman Center this season ... the Utes have played before 57 straight sellout crowds in Rice-Eccles Stadium, dating back to the 2010 season opener ... the first weekly press conference of the year will be on Monday, Aug. 26 at noon in the Eccles Football Center media room.

Preseason Camp Media Policies | July 31 – Aug. 17 (closed to the public)

Camp practices are closed to the public.
Player and coach interviews take place after practice on the dates listed below.
There will be no media observation period during practices.
Utah Athletics Communications will distribute video provided by the program at the beginning of each training camp week to support news organizations' coverage.
Players will be available for interviews for 10 minutes total, starting when they come off the field.
Coach (head and assistant) interviews will be conducted after player interviews.
Athletics Communications staff will facilitate the timing and logistics of media access to the practice field area for post-practice interviews.

Media Schedule for Preseason Camp
Times are approximate and subject to change. Practices not listed below will have no media interview availability.

Week 1:
Wednesday, July 31: Interview Period begins approx. 5 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Thursday, Aug. 1: Interview Period begins approx. 5:30 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Friday, Aug. 2: Interview Period begins approx. 5:30 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Saturday, Aug. 3: Interview Period begins approx. 5 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Week 2:
Monday, Aug. 5: Interview Period begins approx. 12 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Wednesday, Aug. 7: Interview Period begins approx. 12 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Friday, Aug. 9: Interview Period begins approx. 11:15 a.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Saturday, Aug. 10: Interview Period begins approx. 12 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Week 3:
Monday, Aug. 12: Interview Period begins approx. 12 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Wednesday, Aug. 14: Interview Period begins approx. 12 p.m.
(Eccles Football Center Fields)
Friday, Aug. 16: Interview Period begins approx. 12:05 p.m.
(Rice-Eccles Stadium)
Saturday, Aug. 17: Interview Period begins approx. 12:05 p.m.
(Rice-Eccles Stadium)

Two-Minute Drill
Utah's preseason camp will run from July 31-Aug. 17 and is closed to the public. Please see sidebar on page 1 for media policies and availability. Classes and regular season practices will start on Aug. 19.

In the Huddle
Despite what will be an overhaul of new faces on the offensive line, the Utah offensive returns eight of its 11 starters, including all-Pac-12 candidates Tyler Huntley, Zack Moss, Jaylen Dixon and Britain Covey. Darrin Paulo will move to left tackle after 26 career starts on the right side with Orlando Umana also returning to the line after starting in 13 games last season (4 left guard, 9 at center). The Ute defensive line is shaping up to be one of the best in the country, returning All-America candidates Bradlee Anae and Leki Fotu, and All-Pac-12 second-team selection John Penisini, and adding depth with part-time starters from a year ago in Maxs Tupai, Mika Tafua and Pita Tonga. The area hardest hit on defense was at linebacker, losing All-American Chase Hansen and all-Pac-12 selection Cody Barton. Francis Bernard will look to step into a starting role after returning from injury with newcomer and Penn State graduate transfer Manny Bowen also anticipating a starting role. In the secondary, the Utes return Julian Blackmon, Jaylon Johnson and Javelin Guidry. Blackmon is making the switch to safety this season after earning back-to-back all-Pac-12 honors at corner while Johnson will stay at corner where he was a first-team all-conference selection a year ago. Guidry returns as Utah's starting nickleback after showing off his blazing speed this offseason, tying for the fastest 60-meter dash time by a collegiate football player in 2019 with a 6.59.

Watch Out
Several Utes have been named to the preseason watch lists released to date.

Maxwell Award (America's College Player of the Year)	Zack Moss
Bednarik Award (College Defensive Player of the Year)	Bradlee Anae
	Jaylon Johnson
Lott IMPACT Trophy	Jaylon Johnson
Doak Walker Award	Zack Moss
AFCA Good Works Team	Terrell Burgess
John Mackey Award (Tight End)	Cole Fotheringham
Jim Thorpe Award	Julian Blackmon
	Jaylon Johnson

New Faces on Staff
The Utah football staff added three new staff members to its squad this offseason, including two who are already familiar faces. Andy Ludwig, who helped lead Utah to a 13-0 record in 2008 and a Sugar Bowl win over Alabama, returns as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach after spending the past three seasons at Vanderbilt in the same position. Former Ute and NFL defensive tackle Sione Po'uha returns to his alma mater as the defensive tackles coach after holding the same position at Navy in 2018. Rounding out Utah's staff additions is linebackers coach Colton Swan, who was the longest-tenured coach on the Weber State football staff before joining the Utes in January.

Fun Facts
Utah leads the Pac-12 and is sixth nationally in weeks ranked in the College Football Playoff Poll, coming in with 24, only trailing Alabama (31), Clemson (31), Ohio State (31), Oklahoma (29) and LSU (27) ... the Utes rank first in the Pac-12 in turnovers forced (133) and interceptions returned for touchdowns (12) in the last five years ... Utah ranks second among Pac-12 teams in opponent touchdowns allowed in the last 10 years (356), sitting behind Stanford (336).

2018 in Review
In what turned into a historic season, Utah wrapped up 2018 with a 9-5 overall record, including going 6-3 in Pac-12 play to clinch its first outright Pac-12 Conference South Division title. The Utes went on to play in their first Pac-12 Championship game and qualify for their 22nd bowl appearance in program history. Chase Hansen (FWAA 2nd team; Sporting News 2nd team; The Athletic 2nd team; Phil Steele 2nd team), Mitch Wishnowsky (Walter Camp 2nd team; AP 2nd team; AFCA 2nd team; Phil Steele 3rd team) and Matt Gay (FWAA 2nd team; Pro Football Focus 2nd team; AP 3rd team; Phil Steele 2nd team) all earned All-America honors with Wishnowsky becoming the first three-time finalist for the Ray Guy Award in NCAA history. The Utes also set a school record by landing nine student-athletes on the All-Pac-12 first-team. Including first team, second team and honorable mention, 10 of Utah's 11 defensive starters earned all-conference in 2018.

Ute Scouting Report

Quarterback
Tyler Huntley (Sr., 6-1, 205), the primary starter for the past two seasons, has started 19 career games and thrown for 4,259 yards with 27 touchdowns. One of the top returning QBs in the Pac-12, he is backed up by Jason Shelley (So., 5-11, 200) who started the final five games last year after Huntley broke his collarbone. Shelley passed for five touchdowns and ran for three more in guiding the Utes through the Pac-12 Championship Game and the Holiday Bowl.

Offensive Line
Senior all-conference candidate Darrin Paulo (6-5, 315) has started 26 of the past 27 games at right tackle, and is joined by junior center Orlando Umana (6-4, 315) as the two returning starters in 2019. Sophomore Nick Ford (6-5, 315) started seven games at two positions in 2018 and brings additional experience to a group that must solidify its best five in fall camp.

Wide Receiver
Junior Britain Covey (5-8, 170) caught a team-high 60 passes for 637 yards and a touchdown last season in a successful return after a two-year church mission. The two-time All-Pac-12 return man leads a strong and talented group into 2019 along with second-leading receiver Jaylen Dixon (So., 5-9, 170) who averaged a team-high 18.4 yards-per-catch on his 32 receptions in a breakout freshman season.

Running Back
All-America candidate senior Zack Moss (5-10, 222) saw his junior season cut short because of injury but still recorded his second consecutive 1,000-yard campaign, amassing 1,096 yards and 11 TDs in just nine starts. With 2,651 career rushing yards, Moss enters his final season ranked fourth in school history.

Tight End
A pair of true freshmen turned out to be the Utes' most productive tight ends in 2018, with Brant Kuithe (6-2, 235) and Cole Fotheringham (6-4, 252) combining to catch 37 passes for 417 yards and three touchdowns.

Defensive Line
Three senior All-Pac-12 honorees return, led by All-America candidates Bradlee Anae (DE, 6-3, 265) and Leki Fotu (DT, 6-5, 330) who rank among the best players in the country at their positions. John Penisini (DT, 6-2, 320) earned second-team All-Pac-12 honors in a breakout 2018 season.

Linebacker
Senior Francis Bernard (6-0, 240) is one of the team's leading returning tacklers (38 stops, 5.0 TFL, 1 INT) after playing in 12 games a year ago and making two starts. He missed spring ball because of injury but is the most experienced returnee at the linebacker position, and he became more productive as the season progressed.

Cornerback
Jaylon Johnson (Jr., 6-0, 190) is regarded as one of the top cornerbacks in the nation and a legitimate All-America candidate after earning first-team All-Pac-12 in 2018. He had a stellar season with four interceptions and ranked eighth in the nation with 126 interception return yards.

Safety
Converted cornerback Julian Blackmon (Sr., 6-1, 195) gives the safety group a two-time All-Pac-12 performer to be its leader after Marquise Blair was drafted in the second round and Corrion Ballard signed a free agent contract. Blackmon adjusted to his new position in spring ball after starting all 27 games at cornerback for the Utes in 2017 and '18.

Specialists
Wide receiver/returner Britain Covey (5-8, 170) is arguably the top return man in the Pac-12. Voted first-team All-Pac-12 in 2018 after returning from a two-year church mission, Covey picked up where he left off after earning Freshman All-America honors in 2015, and averaged 8.8 yards on 25 punt returns. Punter Ben Lennon (6-2, 199) played four years of Australian rules football in the Australian Football League (2014-17) before enrolling at Utah as part of the
2019 class.

Utah Story Lines
Bradlee Anae enjoys cliff jumping, surfing and hiking. His sister Adora Anae was a first-team All-America volleyball player for Utah … Britain Covey's grandfather Stephen Covey authored the bestseller "Seven Habits of Highly Effective People" … Nick Ford's heritage is black Portuguese and Native American. He enjoys playing the piano and guitar, swimming, surfing, biking, horseback riding, camping and science … Leki Fotu played on the USA Rugby Boys High School All-American team and trained with the London Wasps' rugby team in 2013 … Malik Haynes enjoys Polynesian dancing, free diving and hiking … Ben Lennon played in the Australian Football League … Sione Lund collects watches and listens to Les Misérables before games … Ali'i Niumatalolo's father Ken Niumatalolo is the head football coach at Navy. His family was in the 2014 documentary Meet the Mormons. He plays the piano and cello … Josh Nurse is an impersonator and singer … Dominique Thompson's heritage is Creole, Choctaw Indian, Black, Filipino and Argentinan Mexican … Bamidele Olaseni played for the U19 London Blitz in the British American Football Association … Pita Tonga is the son of two former Ute student-athletes. Pita Sr. was Utah's tackle leader in 1994 while Susana (Tauteoli) Tonga was a first-team all-WAC basketball player and her 36 points against Fresno State set a school record at the time.