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The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Steve C. Wilson
Utah Football Lands Six On Preseason Pac-12 All-Conference First Team
7/18/2023 1:00 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah Football program led the way in the 2023 Preseason Pac-12 All-Conference Team with a league-leading six Utes earning first-team honors and 12 selections through the First Team, Second Team and Honorable Mention squads.
Brant Kuithe (Sr., TE), Sataoa Laumea (Jr., OL), Keaton Bills (Jr., OL), Junior Tafuna (Jr., DT), Karene Reid (Jr., LB) and Cole Bishop (Jr., S) all earned First Team honors while Van Fillinger (Jr., DE) and Lander Barton (So., LB) were named to the Second Team. Michael Mokofisi (So., OL), Jonah Elliss (Jr., DE), JaTravis Broughton (Sr., CB) and Zemaiah Vaughn (Jr., CB) landed on the honorable mention list.
Out of Utah's 12 picks to the preseason all-conference list, eight have earned a spot on post-season All-Pac-12 teams at least once with Barton coming off his first year as a Ute in 2022 where he was named Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Kuithe headlines Utah's first-team selections as a three-time All-Pac-12 tight end, playing in 51 career games with 26 starts. He has 148 career receptions for 1,882 yards (12.7 ypc), entering the season with the most receptions and receiving yards among FBS tight ends.
Laumea and Bills have both been mainstays on the offensive line with Laumea playing in 33 career games with 31 starts while Bills has seen action in 33 games with 25 starts. Laumea is also a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree, earning first-team in 2022 with Bills also earning All-Pac-12 last season.
Bishop and Reid finished first and third on the team in total tackles with Bishop racking up 83 (6.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Reid recording 72 (9.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks). Bishop also put up four passes defended (1 INT, 3 PBU) and a fumble recovery while Reid contributed four passes defended (1 INT, 3 PBU), two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Tafuna, who earned Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the year in 2021, has played in 27 career games with 25 consecutive starts after being named All-Pac-12 in 2022. He started all 14 games last season, recording 27 tackles (3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) with one interception, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
FOLLOW ALONG!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program and its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Football | Instagram: @UtahFootball | Facebook: Search Utah Football), along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
UP NEXT
Utah will be center stage at 2023 Pac-12 Football Media Day this week, taking on the full media circuit on Friday, July 21. Fans can follow along on social media and visit Pac-12 Media Day Central here.
Brant Kuithe (Sr., TE), Sataoa Laumea (Jr., OL), Keaton Bills (Jr., OL), Junior Tafuna (Jr., DT), Karene Reid (Jr., LB) and Cole Bishop (Jr., S) all earned First Team honors while Van Fillinger (Jr., DE) and Lander Barton (So., LB) were named to the Second Team. Michael Mokofisi (So., OL), Jonah Elliss (Jr., DE), JaTravis Broughton (Sr., CB) and Zemaiah Vaughn (Jr., CB) landed on the honorable mention list.
Out of Utah's 12 picks to the preseason all-conference list, eight have earned a spot on post-season All-Pac-12 teams at least once with Barton coming off his first year as a Ute in 2022 where he was named Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.
Kuithe headlines Utah's first-team selections as a three-time All-Pac-12 tight end, playing in 51 career games with 26 starts. He has 148 career receptions for 1,882 yards (12.7 ypc), entering the season with the most receptions and receiving yards among FBS tight ends.
Laumea and Bills have both been mainstays on the offensive line with Laumea playing in 33 career games with 31 starts while Bills has seen action in 33 games with 25 starts. Laumea is also a three-time All-Pac-12 honoree, earning first-team in 2022 with Bills also earning All-Pac-12 last season.
Bishop and Reid finished first and third on the team in total tackles with Bishop racking up 83 (6.0 TFL, 1.5 sacks) and Reid recording 72 (9.5 TFL, 5.0 sacks). Bishop also put up four passes defended (1 INT, 3 PBU) and a fumble recovery while Reid contributed four passes defended (1 INT, 3 PBU), two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.
Tafuna, who earned Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the year in 2021, has played in 27 career games with 25 consecutive starts after being named All-Pac-12 in 2022. He started all 14 games last season, recording 27 tackles (3.5 TFL, 1.0 sack) with one interception, two quarterback hurries and a pass breakup.
FOLLOW ALONG!
To get an inside look at the Utah Football program and its journey through the 2023 season, follow the Utes on social media (Twitter: @Utah_Football | Instagram: @UtahFootball | Facebook: Search Utah Football), along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
UP NEXT
Utah will be center stage at 2023 Pac-12 Football Media Day this week, taking on the full media circuit on Friday, July 21. Fans can follow along on social media and visit Pac-12 Media Day Central here.
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