Upcoming Event: Football at Wyoming on September 13, 2025 at 6 p.m.
6 p.m.
Football
at Wyoming
Ty Jordan Named Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year; Utes earn 12 All-Pac-12 Selections
12/22/2020 1:00 PM | Football
SAN FRANCISCO – Utah freshman running back Ty Jordan highlights Utah's Pac-12 honors today after being named the 2020 Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year with the Utes earning 12 total All-Pac-12 selections this season.
It is the second straight season that the Utes have earned a player of the year honor from the Pac-12 with Zack Moss earning Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. It is also the first time since 2000 that the Utes have had a player earn conference freshman of the year with Jason Kaufusi winning Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Utah's 12 All-Pac-12 honorees include four first-team, four second-team and four named to the honorable mention squad. The Utes had the second-most selections on the first and second teams in the league, also tying for the second-most first-team selections with four.
The Utes were led by first-teamers juniors Nick Ford (OL) and Devin Lloyd (LB), along with sophomore Jadon Redding (PK) and junior Britain Covey (RS) on the special teams list. Both Lloyd and Ford earned honorable mention status in the Pac-12 as sophomores last season with Covey earning his third and fourth career all-Pac-12 selections and his second first-team nod as a returner.
Jordan, junior tight end Brant Kuithe and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea were named to the offensive second-team this year after the trio headlined a youthful and powerful offensive core in 2020. The future is bright for the Utes with this being the first time since joining the Pac-12 in 2011 that Utah has had two freshmen land on the first or second all-conference teams.
Junior Mika Tafua (DE) rounds out Utah's second-team selections after earning honorable mention last season as a sophomore. The Utes four all-conference honorable mention selections include junior Nephi Sewell (LB), sophomore JaTravis Broughton (CB), Covey (WR) and senior Keegan Markgraf (SN).
Sewell and Broughton started all five games at linebacker and cornerback, respectively, with Sewell finishing second on the team with 40 total tackles (6.0 TFL). Sewell (2 INT, 2 PBU) and Broughton (4 PBU) tied for the team-lead in passes defended with four each while Broughton racked up 26 tackles (2.0 TFL) and a fumble recovery.Â
Markgraf was a part of every PAT, punt and FG snap this season with the Utes finishing the year with 20 punts and zero blocks while Utah went a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals and 17-of-17 on PATs. Despite missing the first game, Covey finished 2020 with 19 receptions for 264 yards (3 TDs, 13.9 ypc), which included a career-best 134 yards and a 91-yard touchdown catch against Washington State in the season finale.
Quick Hits on Utah's First & Second Team Selections
#55 Nick Ford :: OL :: JR :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Has played virtually every position on the offensive line since stepping foot in SLC … started all five games on the line (1 at LT, 4 at center) … helped the Utes to average 194.0 rushing yards per game with 5.1 yards per carry and nine rushing touchdowns … Utah finished the season with three games with 200+ yards rushing, including a season-best 229 against Oregon State … was integral in allowing just one sacks in the final three games of the season with the Utes passing for a season-high 305 yards against Washington State.
#0 Devin Lloyd :: LB :: JR :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Defense
Led Utah in total tackles (48) and tackles for loss (10.0), adding 2.0 sacks, one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble … Butkus Award Finalist … he ranks eight in the FBS and fifth in the Pac-12 in solo tackles per game (6.6), second in the FBS and in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss per game (2.0) and is fifth in the Pac-12 in total tackles per game (9.6) … had three double-digit tackle games … back-to-back games with career-high 11 tackles, against USC and Washington … 10 tackles with a career-high four tackles for loss against Washington State … his four tackles for loss in a game ranks as the second-most by a Pac-12 player this season.
#97 Jadon Redding :: PK :: SO :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Special Teams
Finished the season perfect from field goal range and on PATs, going 8-for-8 on field goals and 17-for-17 on PATs, leading the Utes in points scored this season (41) … one of five players in the FBS and one of two in the Pac-12 to not miss a field goal this season … was 2-for-2 from 20-29 yards, 3-for-3 from 30-39 yards and 3-for-3 from 40-49 yards … three of his last four field goals of the year were from 40+ yards, including his career-long 44-yarder against Washington State … won back-to-back Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his 12 points and career-high three made field goals against both Oregon State and Colorado.
#18 Britain Covey :: RS/WR :: JR :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Special Teams
Led the Utes in punt returns (8), punt return yards (129) and punt return touchdowns (1), also finishing the season with four kickoff returns for 113 yards (28.2 ypr) … averaged 16.1 yards per punt return, which ranks second in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 … his 64-yard punt return for a touchdown against Oregon State was the second-longest by a Pac-12 player this season … ranked second on the team in all-purpose yards (509) … career-high 88 kickoff return yards against Colorado, averaging 29.3 per return (3 returns) … end the season ranked fifth in career punt returns (63), fourth in career punt return yards (665) and seventh in career punt return average (10.6).
#22 Ty Jordan :: RB :: FR :: Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Led Utah in carries (83), rushing yards (597), rushing yards per game (119.4), rushing yards per carry (7.2), touchdowns (6) and all-purpose yards (723) this season … three-straight 100+ yard rushing games to end the season, including his career-high 167 rushing yards against Oregon State … his 167 rushing yards against Oregon State was the most by a true freshman since 1995 … ranks ninth in the FBS (first among freshmen) in rushing yards per game (119.4) and is 11th in the FBS (first among freshmen) in rushing yards per carry (7.2) … ranks third overall in the Pac-12 in rushing touchdowns (6) … earned three Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.
#80 Brant Kuithe :: TE :: JR :: Second-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Led the Utes in receptions (25), gaining 236 yards (9.4 ypc) … he also had six rushes for 50 yards (8.3 ypc) … his blocking helped the Utes to average 194.0 yards per game on the ground … had at least four catches in four of Utah's five games … led all Pac-12 tight ends and tied for fourth among TEs in the FBS in receptions per game (5.0) … career-high eight receptions against Oregon State with a season-best 76 yards … season-high 94 all-purpose yards against Washington State with six catches for 61 yards (10.2 ypc) and three carries for 33 yards (11.0 ypc).
#78 Sataoa Laumea :: OL :: R-FR :: Second-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Started every game at right guard, becoming just the second freshman in the Kyle Whittingham era to start every game in a season on the offensive line … helped the Utes to average 194.0 rushing yards per game with 5.1 yards per carry and nine rushing touchdowns … Utah finished the season with three games with 200+ yards rushing, including a season-best 229 against Oregon State … was integral in allowing just one sacks in the final three games of the season with the Utes passing for a season-high 305 yards against Washington State.
#42 Mika Tafua :: DE :: JR :: Second-Team All-Pac-12 Defense
Led the defensive line in total tackles (14) while tying for the lead in tackles for loss (3.0) … also had a team-high 3.0 sacks along with two pass breakups, a team-best three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble … season-high five tackles against USC and Oregon State, recording a sack in both games … career-high three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups against Colorado … two tackles and a key forced fumble in Utah's comeback victory against Washington State.
Â
It is the second straight season that the Utes have earned a player of the year honor from the Pac-12 with Zack Moss earning Offensive Player of the Year in 2019. It is also the first time since 2000 that the Utes have had a player earn conference freshman of the year with Jason Kaufusi winning Mountain West Freshman of the Year in 2000.
Utah's 12 All-Pac-12 honorees include four first-team, four second-team and four named to the honorable mention squad. The Utes had the second-most selections on the first and second teams in the league, also tying for the second-most first-team selections with four.
The Utes were led by first-teamers juniors Nick Ford (OL) and Devin Lloyd (LB), along with sophomore Jadon Redding (PK) and junior Britain Covey (RS) on the special teams list. Both Lloyd and Ford earned honorable mention status in the Pac-12 as sophomores last season with Covey earning his third and fourth career all-Pac-12 selections and his second first-team nod as a returner.
Jordan, junior tight end Brant Kuithe and redshirt freshman offensive lineman Sataoa Laumea were named to the offensive second-team this year after the trio headlined a youthful and powerful offensive core in 2020. The future is bright for the Utes with this being the first time since joining the Pac-12 in 2011 that Utah has had two freshmen land on the first or second all-conference teams.
Junior Mika Tafua (DE) rounds out Utah's second-team selections after earning honorable mention last season as a sophomore. The Utes four all-conference honorable mention selections include junior Nephi Sewell (LB), sophomore JaTravis Broughton (CB), Covey (WR) and senior Keegan Markgraf (SN).
Sewell and Broughton started all five games at linebacker and cornerback, respectively, with Sewell finishing second on the team with 40 total tackles (6.0 TFL). Sewell (2 INT, 2 PBU) and Broughton (4 PBU) tied for the team-lead in passes defended with four each while Broughton racked up 26 tackles (2.0 TFL) and a fumble recovery.Â
Markgraf was a part of every PAT, punt and FG snap this season with the Utes finishing the year with 20 punts and zero blocks while Utah went a perfect 8-for-8 on field goals and 17-of-17 on PATs. Despite missing the first game, Covey finished 2020 with 19 receptions for 264 yards (3 TDs, 13.9 ypc), which included a career-best 134 yards and a 91-yard touchdown catch against Washington State in the season finale.
Quick Hits on Utah's First & Second Team Selections
#55 Nick Ford :: OL :: JR :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Has played virtually every position on the offensive line since stepping foot in SLC … started all five games on the line (1 at LT, 4 at center) … helped the Utes to average 194.0 rushing yards per game with 5.1 yards per carry and nine rushing touchdowns … Utah finished the season with three games with 200+ yards rushing, including a season-best 229 against Oregon State … was integral in allowing just one sacks in the final three games of the season with the Utes passing for a season-high 305 yards against Washington State.
#0 Devin Lloyd :: LB :: JR :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Defense
Led Utah in total tackles (48) and tackles for loss (10.0), adding 2.0 sacks, one quarterback hurry and a forced fumble … Butkus Award Finalist … he ranks eight in the FBS and fifth in the Pac-12 in solo tackles per game (6.6), second in the FBS and in the Pac-12 in tackles for loss per game (2.0) and is fifth in the Pac-12 in total tackles per game (9.6) … had three double-digit tackle games … back-to-back games with career-high 11 tackles, against USC and Washington … 10 tackles with a career-high four tackles for loss against Washington State … his four tackles for loss in a game ranks as the second-most by a Pac-12 player this season.
#97 Jadon Redding :: PK :: SO :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Special Teams
Finished the season perfect from field goal range and on PATs, going 8-for-8 on field goals and 17-for-17 on PATs, leading the Utes in points scored this season (41) … one of five players in the FBS and one of two in the Pac-12 to not miss a field goal this season … was 2-for-2 from 20-29 yards, 3-for-3 from 30-39 yards and 3-for-3 from 40-49 yards … three of his last four field goals of the year were from 40+ yards, including his career-long 44-yarder against Washington State … won back-to-back Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week honors for his 12 points and career-high three made field goals against both Oregon State and Colorado.
#18 Britain Covey :: RS/WR :: JR :: First-Team All-Pac-12 Special Teams
Led the Utes in punt returns (8), punt return yards (129) and punt return touchdowns (1), also finishing the season with four kickoff returns for 113 yards (28.2 ypr) … averaged 16.1 yards per punt return, which ranks second in the FBS and first in the Pac-12 … his 64-yard punt return for a touchdown against Oregon State was the second-longest by a Pac-12 player this season … ranked second on the team in all-purpose yards (509) … career-high 88 kickoff return yards against Colorado, averaging 29.3 per return (3 returns) … end the season ranked fifth in career punt returns (63), fourth in career punt return yards (665) and seventh in career punt return average (10.6).
#22 Ty Jordan :: RB :: FR :: Pac-12 Offensive Freshman of the Year, Second-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Led Utah in carries (83), rushing yards (597), rushing yards per game (119.4), rushing yards per carry (7.2), touchdowns (6) and all-purpose yards (723) this season … three-straight 100+ yard rushing games to end the season, including his career-high 167 rushing yards against Oregon State … his 167 rushing yards against Oregon State was the most by a true freshman since 1995 … ranks ninth in the FBS (first among freshmen) in rushing yards per game (119.4) and is 11th in the FBS (first among freshmen) in rushing yards per carry (7.2) … ranks third overall in the Pac-12 in rushing touchdowns (6) … earned three Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors.
#80 Brant Kuithe :: TE :: JR :: Second-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Led the Utes in receptions (25), gaining 236 yards (9.4 ypc) … he also had six rushes for 50 yards (8.3 ypc) … his blocking helped the Utes to average 194.0 yards per game on the ground … had at least four catches in four of Utah's five games … led all Pac-12 tight ends and tied for fourth among TEs in the FBS in receptions per game (5.0) … career-high eight receptions against Oregon State with a season-best 76 yards … season-high 94 all-purpose yards against Washington State with six catches for 61 yards (10.2 ypc) and three carries for 33 yards (11.0 ypc).
#78 Sataoa Laumea :: OL :: R-FR :: Second-Team All-Pac-12 Offense
Started every game at right guard, becoming just the second freshman in the Kyle Whittingham era to start every game in a season on the offensive line … helped the Utes to average 194.0 rushing yards per game with 5.1 yards per carry and nine rushing touchdowns … Utah finished the season with three games with 200+ yards rushing, including a season-best 229 against Oregon State … was integral in allowing just one sacks in the final three games of the season with the Utes passing for a season-high 305 yards against Washington State.
#42 Mika Tafua :: DE :: JR :: Second-Team All-Pac-12 Defense
Led the defensive line in total tackles (14) while tying for the lead in tackles for loss (3.0) … also had a team-high 3.0 sacks along with two pass breakups, a team-best three quarterback hurries and a forced fumble … season-high five tackles against USC and Oregon State, recording a sack in both games … career-high three quarterback hurries and two pass breakups against Colorado … two tackles and a key forced fumble in Utah's comeback victory against Washington State.
Â
Players Mentioned
CB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
LB
/ Football
SN
/ Football
PK
/ Football
LB
/ Football
DE
/ FootballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - Keith Kelley, voice of the Wyoming Cowboys
Tuesday, September 09
Ute greats Ron McBride and Roy Jefferson Ring of Honor Induction
Monday, September 08
Utah: 63, Cal Poly: 9 | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE
Saturday, September 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Ron McBride
Wednesday, September 03