Reviewing the Roster: The Secondary

4/5/2021 3:22 PM | Football

After losing virtually the entire secondary to the 2020 NFL Draft, the program was set to introduce an inexperienced secondary during the 2020 season. Although there were nerves of what production would come out of the young secondary to start the year, those were quickly squashed when the Utes’ starting lineup gave the term “ball hawks” a new meaning.

The extreme amount of athleticism from Utah’s 2020 starting secondary was evident on every play last season, and with three of Utah’s four starters returning for the 2021 season, Utah fans are sure to see another strong year on the defensive side of the ball.

RETURNING UTES
Utah finished the 2020 season ranked second in the Pac-12 and eighth in the FBS in interceptions per game (1.4), plucking seven total. Five different Utes intercepted passes in 2020, including senior Vonte Davis who tied for the team lead with two.

Davis (S), JaTravis Broughton (CB), Clark Phillips III (CB) and Nate Ritchie (S) started all five games in 2020, and while Ritchie will serve a church mission during the 2021 season, Utah fans will see the return of Davis, Broughton and Phillips. Broughton earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention in 2020, also teamed up with nickel back returner Malone Mataele, who started the final two games last season.

NEWCOMER NOTES
With the full signing class joining the Utes in the fall, Utah did have two early enrollees join the team this spring in safeties Cole Bishop and Bleu Stewart.

Bishop comes to Utah out of Peachtree City, Ga., where he was an all-state, all-region and all-county selection for Starr’s Mill HS. Stewart was the No. 7 recruit in the state of Nevada out of Desert Pines HS where he was a standout two-sport athlete, winning the state championship in the 4X400 meter relay.

QUICK HITS ON UTAH’S SPRING SAFETY/CORNERBACK DEPTH CHART

4 :: JaTravis Broughton :: Left Corner :: 5-11, 190, So. :: Tulsa, Okla. (Union HS)
Has played in 19 career games at Utah, starting all five games in 2020 when he earned All-Pac-12 honorable mention … second on the secondary in 2020 with 26 tackles, adding a team-high four pass breakups … played in all 14 games in 2019 as a true freshman.

3 :: Drew Rawls :: Left Corner :: 6-0, 188, R-Fr. :: Beaumont, Texas (West Brooke Senior HS)
Six career games as a Ute … played in two games in 2020, recording his first-career tackle against Oregon State … saw action in four games as a true freshman in 2019, appearing on defense against Idaho State and Oregon State.

8 :: Clark Phillips III :: Right Corner :: 5-10, 191, Fr. :: Lakewood, Calif. (La Habra HS)
Started all five games in 2020 as a true freshman … 25 total tackles (2.0 TFL), a fumble recovery and three passes defended (1 INT, 2 PBU) … career-high nine tackles against No. 20 USC … first-career pick-six (36 yards) against Washington State in the season finale … No. 4 cornerback in the country out of La Habra HS.

23 :: Faybian Marks :: Right Corner :: 5-10, 185, Fr. :: Richmond, Texas (George Ranch HS)
Played in all five games in 2020 as a true freshman, playing on defense in three … best game was against Washington with two tackles, a pass breakup and an interception … two-way player out of George Ranch HS was also a talented return specialist, averaging 26.7 yards per kick return as a senior.

15 :: Malone Mataele :: Nickel Back :: 5-11, 185, So. :: Placentia, Calif. (Santa Margarita Catholic HS)
Has played in 15 career games at Utah … played in four games with two starts in 2020 … career-high three tackles and two pass breakups against Washington State … played in eight games in 2019 as a redshirt freshman, also playing in three as a true freshman in 2018.

22 :: Aaron Lowe :: Nickel Back :: 6-0, 188, So. :: Mesquite, Texas (West Mesquite HS)
Has played in 16 career games as a Ute … played in all five games in 2020 as a key member of the special teams … also saw action in 11 games on special teams as a true freshman in 2019 … began his high school career at West Mesquite as a wide receiver before switching to defense.

9 :: Vonte Davis :: Free Safety :: 6-0, 190, Sr. :: Rosenberg, Texas (Terry HS)
Leads the secondary with 33 career games played at Utah, starting all five at free safety in 2020 … had 16 tackles, team-high two interceptions, four passes defended (2 PBU, 2 INT) and a forced fumble … career-high seven tackles and a pass breakup against No. 20 USC … 18-yard interception against Washington.

10 :: R.J. Hubert :: Free Safety :: 6-0, 195, Jr. :: Logandale, Nev. (Moapa Valley HS)
Has played in 24 career games at Utah, including in four in 2020 after returning from his season-ending injury at the end of 2019 … played in 13 games in 2019 with three starts, recording 22 total tackles … career-high seven tackles against Washington State in 2019, also forcing a fumble against Washington.

13 :: Kamo’i Latu :: Strong Safety :: 6-3, 190, Fr. :: Honolulu, Hawaii (Saint Louis School)
Played in all five games on special teams in 2020 as a true freshman … recorded first collegiate tackle against No. 20 USC … first-team all-state and all-ILH as a senior at Saint Louis School … finished third in the state in the triple jump in 2018 and 2019.

6 :: Cole Bishop :: Strong Safety :: 6-3, 200, Fr. :: Peachtree City, Ga. (Starr’s Mill HS)
Three-star recruit out of Starr’s Mill HS, earning first-team all-state, all-region and all-county honors … was County and Region MVP … racked up 101 tackles, nine pass breakups and five interceptions as a junior.