Unsung Heroes: 2019 Offensive Line/Tight End Preview

Unsung Heroes: 2019 Offensive Line/Tight End Preview

7/3/2019 1:17 PM | Football

Each week, they stand up. Stand up to the biggest and toughest defensive lines in the country, including their own every day in practice. They are the unsung heroes, the hybrids of the offense, the big guys.

Utah's offensive line and tight end group enter fall camp with some differences – one group has to replace three key starters while the other brings back two youngsters that proved that they can block and catch touchdown passes. Despite the differences in personnel, they are coming to the gridiron this fall with a unified goal of continuing the tradition that Utes before them have set in stone.

Utah returns to the top TWO tight ends in yards per route run in the Pac-12. pic.twitter.com/Jp9tEUQyMh
— PFF College (@PFF_College) June 14, 2019

Since 2014, every offensive tackle that has started a game for the Utes has been drafted.

?? CJ Poutasi
?? Garett Bolles
?? JJ Dielman
?? Sam Tevi
?? Jackson Barton #TackleFactory #OBLOCK pic.twitter.com/oBU2wiYyIU
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) May 13, 2019

Returning Lettermen (8)

Nick Ford	OL, So.	6-5, 315 (San Pedro, Calif.)
Cole Fotheringham	TE, So.	6-4, 252 (San Clemente, Calif.)
Brant Kuithe	TE, So.	6-2, 235 (Katy, Texas)
Kyle Lanterman	OL, Sr.	6-2, 305 (Long Beach, Calif.)
Ali'i Niumatalolo	TE, Jr.	6-2, 235 (Annapolis, Md.)
Darrin Paulo	OL, Sr.	6-5, 315 (Sacramento, Calif.)
Paul Toala	OL, Sr.	6-4, 320 (Burien, Wash.)
Orlando Umana	OL, Jr.	6-4, 315 (Sacramento, Calif.)

Redshirts (4)

Braeden Daniels	OL, R-Fr.	6-4, 300 (Carrollton, Texas)
Paul Maile	OL, R-Fr.	6-2, 300 (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Simi Moala	OL, R-Fr.	6-7, 305 (Hawthorne, Calif.)
Thomas Yassmin	TE, R-Fr.	6-5, 255 (Sydney, Australia)

Newcomers/Transfers (9)

Keaton Bills	OL, Fr.	6-4, 305 (Draper, Utah)
Luke Felix-Fualalo	OL, Fr.	6-7, 310 (Brisbane, Australia)
Sataoa Laumea	OL, Fr.	6-4, 300 (Rialto, Calif.)
Alex Locklear	OL, Sr. (TR)	6-5, 330 (Huntington, W. Va.)
Johnny Maea	OL, Fr.	6-4, 285 (Salt Lake City, Utah)
Bamidele Olaseni	OL, Jr. (TR)	6-7, 332 (London, England)
Noah Osur-Myers	OL, Sr. (TR)	6-4, 310 (Walnut Creek, Calif.)
Soa Rosales	TE, Fr.	6-3, 230 (Provo, Utah)
Marist Talavou	OL, Fr.	6-2, 320 (Norwalk, Calif.)

Other Returners (3)

London Bartholomew	OL, Jr.	6-1, 295 (Mesa, Ariz.)
Bapa Falemaka	TE, Jr.	6-3, 250 (Grantsville, Utah)
Stratten Wagner	OL, Jr.	6-3, 305 (Lindon, Utah)

Quick Hits On Select 2019 Offensive Linemen/Tight Ends

Nick Ford | OL | SO | San Pedro, Calif.
Jack of all trades on the offensive line after playing guard, tackle and center last season … played in 11 games with seven starts in 2018 … 519 snaps in games that were recorded with four cuts … season-high 84 plays and a cut against USC.

That escalated quickly: @Utah_Football redshirt freshman Nick Ford was Britain Covey-sized in high school, standing 5-8 and weighing 160 pounds. Now he's 6-5, 320, and looks like he'll hold down a starting spot on the Utes' offensive line this season. https://t.co/M1lJJwvu0Z pic.twitter.com/iNkl8t9ixV
— Salt Lake Tribune Sports (@sltribsports) August 15, 2018

Cole Fotheringham | TE | SO | San Clemente, Calif.
Played in all 14 games, starting nine as a true freshman in 2018 … 17 receptions for 190 yards and two touchdowns … career-high 76 yards on five catches that included a career-long 40 yarder against Oregon … scored a touchdown on his first career reception against Weber state.

First @Utah_Football TD of 2018, courtesy of Cole Fotheringham's first career catch! #goutes #WEBvsUTAH
Watch: @Pac12Network pic.twitter.com/teQaAcXT52
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) August 31, 2018

Brant Kuithe | TE | SO | Katy, Texas
Played in all 14 games, starting two as a true freshman last season … led the tight ends with 20 catches for 270 yards and a touchdown … averaged 11.4 yards per catch … career-best 68 yards on four catches that included a career-long 30-yard reception against USC … like Fotheringham, caught a 28-yard touchdown on his first-career reception against Weber State.

Freshman TE Brant Kuithe has watched his role grow with the Ute offense and he's excited for the future (FREE): https://t.co/PI8wIAeoBT
— UteZone (@UteZone) October 23, 2018

Bamidele Olaseni | OL | JR | London, England
Highly recruited junior college transfer out of Garden City CC … four-star recruit on 247Sports and Rivals was a first-team NJCAA All-American as a sophomore in 2018 … rated the No. 9 JUCO offensive tackle in the nation … played for the U19 London Blitz in the British American Football Association … also goes by "Bam".

BAM! 4 star OT Bamidele Olaseni (@BamideleOlaseni) has signed with Utah!

The 6-foot-8, 320 pound mauler committed to Utah last night and will immediately contend for a starting job upon arriving. He held offers from 11 schools, including Auburn, Tennessee, Ole Miss, and Texas.
— Andrew Fronce (@AFronceRivals) February 6, 2019

Darrin Paulo | OL | SR | Sacramento, Calif.
Has played in 39 games, including 26 starts on the offensive line … three-time Pac-12 All-Academic selection … played and started in 13 games last season at right tackle … fourth on the line with 707 total plays in games that stats were recorded … ranked second on the team in cuts with six in 2018 … team-high 836 plays in 2017 as a sophomore.

#tbt to this big guy TD by #77 Darrin Paulo pic.twitter.com/KITdERYYJQ
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) June 14, 2018

Paul Toala | OL | SR | Burien, Wash.
Former walk-on that is vying for a starting job at right guard this fall … has played in 20 games for the Utes … played in seven games last season, including four on the offensive line to rack up 21 plays … saw action in all 13 games in 2017, playing in 132 snaps on the line.

He's a @Utah_Football player, a husband, a father, and a graduate! ??

Paul Toala's #UtahGrad19 Story: https://t.co/bm1Xil7l2G pic.twitter.com/L8JI1HCmXi
— Utah Athletics (@utahathletics) May 3, 2019

Orlando Umana | OL | JR | Sacramento, Calif.
Perfect example of "next man up" for the Utes last season as he stepped into the role of starting center … played in all 14 games, starting four at left guard and nine at center … 724 snaps in the 11 games that stats were recorded, ranking third on the line … five cuts … season-best 84 plays and a cut against USC.

Top graded centers in the Pac-12 in 2018 according to PFF (min 300 snaps)

1. Nick Harris 77.6 (UW)
2. Jake Hanson 71.3 (UO)
3. Frederick Mauigoa 67.7 (WSU)
4. Cohl Cabral 67.4 (ASU)
5. Orlando Umana 65.8 (Utah)
— Mike Singer (@Rivals_Singer) January 15, 2019