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The University of Utah Athletics
Ten Utes Land Pac-12 All-Conference Accolades
12/5/2023 2:00 PM | Football
Bouwmeester, Elliss and Vaki collect First Team
SAN RAMON, Calif. – The University of Utah Football program landed 10 players on the 2023 Pac-12 All-Conference teams today, highlighted by three earning First Team recognition.
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Utah's first-teamers include Jonah Elliss (DE) and Jack Bouwmeester (P) along with Sione Vaki earning First Team as a safety and all-purpose player. Sataoa Laumea (OL), Junior Tafuna (DT), Karene Reid (LB) and Cole Bishop (S) all were named to the Second Team with Keaton Bills (OL), Michael Mokofisi (OL) and Zemaiah Vaughn (CB) landing on the honorable mention squad.
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With his Second Team recognition today, Laumea becomes the fourth Ute in the Pac-12 era to earn four All-Conference selections, also earning First Team in 2022, Honorable Mention in 2021 and Second Team in 2020. Bishop is a three-time honoree with Tafuna, Bills and Elliss all being two-time selections.
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Elliss, who is a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Ted Hendricks Award, caused chaos for opposing offenses when he was on the field, ranking first in the Power Five in sacks per game (1.20) with 12.0 total sacks. He also ranks fourth in the country in tackles for loss per game (1.6) with 16.0 total TFL, racking up 37 total tackles and three pass breakups in 10 games in 2023.
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On special teams, Bouwmeester provided consistency as Utah's starting punter, earning the Ray Guy Award's Ray's 8 weekly honors three times and Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week twice. He has 48 punts through 12 games (46.0 avg), leading the league and ranking 14th in the FBS in yards per punt.
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Vaki has been the Swiss army knife for the Utes this season, starting all 12 games at safety while also doubling as a running back in seven contests. He was a three-time selection to the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll, recording 51 total tackles on defense (8.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks) while also producing 317 rushing yards (2 TDs) and 203 receiving yards (3 TDs).
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Bishop, one of Utah's two defensive team captains, played in 11 games this season with 10 starts, leading the secondary with 60 tackles (6.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks) with his 9.5 third-down stops being the most on the team. He has five passes defended on the year as well (2 INT, 3 PBU) and averaged 5.4 tackles per game during Pac-12 play.
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Tafuna started in 10 games at defensive tackle, plugging holes while also recording 14 tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) as well as one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one pass breakup. He had a season-high five stops (1.0 TFL) in Utah's game at No. 19 Oregon State, also forcing and recovering a fumble against No. 8 Oregon.
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Reid, who is also a team captain for the Utes, started in 10 games in 2023, ranking third on the team in total tackles (59), also notching five defended passes (1 INT, 4 PBU). He averaged 6.8 tackles per game during league play, posting a season-high nine against UCLA, Oregon and Washington.
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Laumea, Mokofisi and Bills were the leaders of the O-Block this season with all three starting in every game at right tackle, right guard and left guard, respectively. They have been integral in Utah's ranking in the top-30 in the FBS in rushing offense, also protecting Utah's quarterback with only allowing one sack or less in seven games this season.
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Vaughn wraps up Utah's 2023 all-conference selections with the cornerback starting all 12 regular season games with 45 tackles (3.5 TFL) and a team-high seven passes defended (6 PBU, 1 INT). He had a career-high seven tackles at No. 17 Arizona, also putting up six stops at No. 5 Washington the week prior.
UP NEXT
Utah is set to play in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 23 against the Northwestern Wildcats in Allegiant Stadium. For more information about the bowl and to stay up-to-date on all things Utah, visit the Bowl Central Page here.
FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through postseason, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
Instagram:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Threads:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Facebook:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah Football
TikTok:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
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Utah's first-teamers include Jonah Elliss (DE) and Jack Bouwmeester (P) along with Sione Vaki earning First Team as a safety and all-purpose player. Sataoa Laumea (OL), Junior Tafuna (DT), Karene Reid (LB) and Cole Bishop (S) all were named to the Second Team with Keaton Bills (OL), Michael Mokofisi (OL) and Zemaiah Vaughn (CB) landing on the honorable mention squad.
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With his Second Team recognition today, Laumea becomes the fourth Ute in the Pac-12 era to earn four All-Conference selections, also earning First Team in 2022, Honorable Mention in 2021 and Second Team in 2020. Bishop is a three-time honoree with Tafuna, Bills and Elliss all being two-time selections.
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Elliss, who is a finalist for the Lombardi Award, the Lott IMPACT Trophy and the Ted Hendricks Award, caused chaos for opposing offenses when he was on the field, ranking first in the Power Five in sacks per game (1.20) with 12.0 total sacks. He also ranks fourth in the country in tackles for loss per game (1.6) with 16.0 total TFL, racking up 37 total tackles and three pass breakups in 10 games in 2023.
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On special teams, Bouwmeester provided consistency as Utah's starting punter, earning the Ray Guy Award's Ray's 8 weekly honors three times and Pac-12 Special Teams Player of the Week twice. He has 48 punts through 12 games (46.0 avg), leading the league and ranking 14th in the FBS in yards per punt.
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Vaki has been the Swiss army knife for the Utes this season, starting all 12 games at safety while also doubling as a running back in seven contests. He was a three-time selection to the Paul Hornung Award weekly honor roll, recording 51 total tackles on defense (8.5 TFL, 2.0 sacks) while also producing 317 rushing yards (2 TDs) and 203 receiving yards (3 TDs).
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Bishop, one of Utah's two defensive team captains, played in 11 games this season with 10 starts, leading the secondary with 60 tackles (6.5 TFL, 3.0 sacks) with his 9.5 third-down stops being the most on the team. He has five passes defended on the year as well (2 INT, 3 PBU) and averaged 5.4 tackles per game during Pac-12 play.
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Tafuna started in 10 games at defensive tackle, plugging holes while also recording 14 tackles (2.0 TFL, 1.0 sack) as well as one forced fumble, a fumble recovery and one pass breakup. He had a season-high five stops (1.0 TFL) in Utah's game at No. 19 Oregon State, also forcing and recovering a fumble against No. 8 Oregon.
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Reid, who is also a team captain for the Utes, started in 10 games in 2023, ranking third on the team in total tackles (59), also notching five defended passes (1 INT, 4 PBU). He averaged 6.8 tackles per game during league play, posting a season-high nine against UCLA, Oregon and Washington.
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Laumea, Mokofisi and Bills were the leaders of the O-Block this season with all three starting in every game at right tackle, right guard and left guard, respectively. They have been integral in Utah's ranking in the top-30 in the FBS in rushing offense, also protecting Utah's quarterback with only allowing one sack or less in seven games this season.
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Vaughn wraps up Utah's 2023 all-conference selections with the cornerback starting all 12 regular season games with 45 tackles (3.5 TFL) and a team-high seven passes defended (6 PBU, 1 INT). He had a career-high seven tackles at No. 17 Arizona, also putting up six stops at No. 5 Washington the week prior.
UP NEXT
Utah is set to play in the 2023 SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl on Saturday, Dec. 23 against the Northwestern Wildcats in Allegiant Stadium. For more information about the bowl and to stay up-to-date on all things Utah, visit the Bowl Central Page here.
FOLLOW US!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program during its journey through postseason, follow the Utes on social media along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Twitter:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
Instagram:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Threads:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @UtahFootball
Facebook:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Utah Football
TikTok:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â @Utah_Football
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Players Mentioned
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