Upcoming Event: Football versus Idaho on September 3, 2026
Football
vs Idaho
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Barton, Kuithe, Tafuna Earn Preseason All-America By Pick Six Previews
7/25/2024 4:22 PM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – The University of Utah Football team landed three student-athletes on the 2024 Pick Six Previews' Preseason All-America teams with Brant Kuithe (3rd Team), Lander Barton (4th Team) and Junior Tafuna (4th Team) all earning spots.
Kuithe, who has also been named preseason All-America by Athlon Sports, is a three-time all-conference tight end with 51 career games and 26 starts at Utah. He enters the 2024 season leading all active FBS tight ends in receptions (148) and receiving yards (1,882), catching at least one pass in 32 straight games that he has appeared in.
Tafuna is a three-time all-conference defensive tackle, also earning 2021 Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. He has played in 38 career games at Utah with 36 straight starts, entering the 2024 season with 77 total tackles (12.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks), five passes defended and two fumble recoveries.
Barton, who has played in 21 career games with 10 starts, was a CFN Freshman All-American and Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, leading all freshmen on the team with 46 tackles (8.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks). He started the first seven games in 2023, missing the rest of the season with an injury after producing 34 tackles and four passes defended.
FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage throughout the season on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Kuithe, who has also been named preseason All-America by Athlon Sports, is a three-time all-conference tight end with 51 career games and 26 starts at Utah. He enters the 2024 season leading all active FBS tight ends in receptions (148) and receiving yards (1,882), catching at least one pass in 32 straight games that he has appeared in.
Tafuna is a three-time all-conference defensive tackle, also earning 2021 Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year. He has played in 38 career games at Utah with 36 straight starts, entering the 2024 season with 77 total tackles (12.0 TFL, 7.0 sacks), five passes defended and two fumble recoveries.
Barton, who has played in 21 career games with 10 starts, was a CFN Freshman All-American and Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year in 2022, leading all freshmen on the team with 46 tackles (8.0 TFL, 4.5 sacks). He started the first seven games in 2023, missing the rest of the season with an injury after producing 34 tackles and four passes defended.
FOLLOW UTAH FOOTBALL ON SOCIAL MEDIA!
Follow along with behind the scenes content and coverage throughout the season on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com.
Players Mentioned
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Football legend Brian Johnson
Friday, February 20
Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley Introductory Press Conference | 1.06.25
Tuesday, January 06
Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley Introductory Press Conference
Tuesday, January 06
Utah: 44 vs. Nebraska | POST GAME PRESS CONFERENCE | SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl
Thursday, January 01