Upcoming Event: Football versus Idaho on September 3, 2026
Football
vs Idaho
.png&width=31&height=31&type=webp)
The University of Utah Athletics
Photo by: Axe Tang/Utah Athletics
Camp Kyle 2024: Landen King Q&A
8/13/2024 10:00 AM | Football
SALT LAKE CITY – Fall camp has officially hit week three for the University of Utah football team. Throughout camp, UtahUtes.com will catch-up with returners, newcomers and coaches to find out what the Utes are talking about this fall.
Tight end Landen King is in his second season with the Utes after spending his first year in Salt Lake City in 2023 and posting career-highs in catches, yardage and touchdowns. He made four total starts a season ago and hauled in 14 passes for 166 yards and three scores. His first reception as a Ute was a seven-yard TD against UCLA on Sept. 23, which provided the decisive margin in a 14-7 Utah win. He reached the end zone again during the Utes' road triumph over No. 18 USC before adding his final touchdown of the season on Nov. 4 to help the Utes trounce Arizona State. He also set single-game career-highs in catches and receiving yards on No. 18 at Arizona.
Q: What's camp been like so far?
A: "It's been real busy, just being here all day, but honestly, practice has been going smooth. I've been more confident because I've been here for a whole year, learning the plays. I don't have to learn the plays because I already know the plays, so I can play faster and its been good seeing all the new guys because I think we have about 40 new people, which is more than a third of our team, so seeing all those people come out here and buy in to the culture has been real nice."
Q: Do you feel like having gone through that experience of coming here as a new player puts you in a position to be able to help the new guys?
A: "Oh yeah, 100%, because I can come over here and help Carsen and Caleb with anything they need, regardless of if that's with the playbook or going to get something to eat with them, helping out all the new guys. It doesn't really matter or have to be on-the-field stuff."
Q: What's it like to be part of such a talented tight end group?
A: "It's just special. It's a blessing because, like I said, everybody can do their own thing and having that much talent in the room, that just gets scary and just knowing coach [Ludwig] and how he's going to move us around, different personnel, different packages, it should be really fun."
Q: Is there anything specific your position coach preaches consistently?
A: "It's just be here every day and the fundamentals because we have a lot of talent in this room and sometimes, we can get away from the fundamentals, so he reminds about inside hands and footwork to make sure we're all doing the right things and being the best we can be."
Q: How did you try to reach your goal of putting on weight and getting stronger in the offseason?
A: "It's been good. I've been drinking shakes and I've actually put on about 10 to 15 pounds since the last game. It's been pretty good. I'm trying to keep it on now. Fall camp has been kind of hard, but its all good. We'll get that back."
Q: How much does that help you from a blocking standpoint?
A: "Being a lighter tight end, I feel like I have to have my inside hands right, I have to have my footwork right and I think over the spring and going into fall camp, that's what I've been getting better at, inside hands, fundamentals, footwork, being where I need to be and positioning my body to where my defender can't make the tackle."
Q: What is it about blocking you enjoy so much?
A: "Honestly, I don't know. I like the controlled aggression of it. I've always been like that since high school. When I was going against defensive backs, I was always pancaking them and it really didn't matter when I was going against defensive ends, I was still trying to pancake them. It's really just a want-to to really block."
Q: There was as moment last year when you said Thomas Yassmin said the tight end room is yours and its in good hands with you. How meaningful was that?
A: "That was really meaningful. Having that type of confidence from the older guys to a new guy just coming in, that meant a lot to me and I can see that with Brant [Kuithe], too. Brant really trusts me right now and that gives me more confidence, knowing that somebody of his caliber is putting trust in me and I can follow in his footsteps, ask him anything. Any problems I have, I know I can go up to him. Having that type of person in our room that I can talk to, that goes a long way."
Q: Do you feel like that helps prepare you to be that guy for some of the younger players?
A: "I 100% percent think that. I think that goes for anybody in any position group that has that type of leadership, like how Brant is to me. Brant's leading the way right now. All I have to do is follow in his footsteps. He's obviously doing something right."
Tight end Landen King is in his second season with the Utes after spending his first year in Salt Lake City in 2023 and posting career-highs in catches, yardage and touchdowns. He made four total starts a season ago and hauled in 14 passes for 166 yards and three scores. His first reception as a Ute was a seven-yard TD against UCLA on Sept. 23, which provided the decisive margin in a 14-7 Utah win. He reached the end zone again during the Utes' road triumph over No. 18 USC before adding his final touchdown of the season on Nov. 4 to help the Utes trounce Arizona State. He also set single-game career-highs in catches and receiving yards on No. 18 at Arizona.
Wilson ?? King ??@Isaac_kawika @Landen_King3 pic.twitter.com/UJfHG5U1yo
— Utah Football (@Utah_Football) April 13, 2024
Q: What's camp been like so far?
A: "It's been real busy, just being here all day, but honestly, practice has been going smooth. I've been more confident because I've been here for a whole year, learning the plays. I don't have to learn the plays because I already know the plays, so I can play faster and its been good seeing all the new guys because I think we have about 40 new people, which is more than a third of our team, so seeing all those people come out here and buy in to the culture has been real nice."
Q: Do you feel like having gone through that experience of coming here as a new player puts you in a position to be able to help the new guys?
A: "Oh yeah, 100%, because I can come over here and help Carsen and Caleb with anything they need, regardless of if that's with the playbook or going to get something to eat with them, helping out all the new guys. It doesn't really matter or have to be on-the-field stuff."
Q: What's it like to be part of such a talented tight end group?
A: "It's just special. It's a blessing because, like I said, everybody can do their own thing and having that much talent in the room, that just gets scary and just knowing coach [Ludwig] and how he's going to move us around, different personnel, different packages, it should be really fun."
Q: Is there anything specific your position coach preaches consistently?
A: "It's just be here every day and the fundamentals because we have a lot of talent in this room and sometimes, we can get away from the fundamentals, so he reminds about inside hands and footwork to make sure we're all doing the right things and being the best we can be."
Q: How did you try to reach your goal of putting on weight and getting stronger in the offseason?
A: "It's been good. I've been drinking shakes and I've actually put on about 10 to 15 pounds since the last game. It's been pretty good. I'm trying to keep it on now. Fall camp has been kind of hard, but its all good. We'll get that back."
Q: How much does that help you from a blocking standpoint?
A: "Being a lighter tight end, I feel like I have to have my inside hands right, I have to have my footwork right and I think over the spring and going into fall camp, that's what I've been getting better at, inside hands, fundamentals, footwork, being where I need to be and positioning my body to where my defender can't make the tackle."
Q: What is it about blocking you enjoy so much?
A: "Honestly, I don't know. I like the controlled aggression of it. I've always been like that since high school. When I was going against defensive backs, I was always pancaking them and it really didn't matter when I was going against defensive ends, I was still trying to pancake them. It's really just a want-to to really block."
Q: There was as moment last year when you said Thomas Yassmin said the tight end room is yours and its in good hands with you. How meaningful was that?
A: "That was really meaningful. Having that type of confidence from the older guys to a new guy just coming in, that meant a lot to me and I can see that with Brant [Kuithe], too. Brant really trusts me right now and that gives me more confidence, knowing that somebody of his caliber is putting trust in me and I can follow in his footsteps, ask him anything. Any problems I have, I know I can go up to him. Having that type of person in our room that I can talk to, that goes a long way."
Q: Do you feel like that helps prepare you to be that guy for some of the younger players?
A: "I 100% percent think that. I think that goes for anybody in any position group that has that type of leadership, like how Brant is to me. Brant's leading the way right now. All I have to do is follow in his footsteps. He's obviously doing something right."
Players Mentioned
TE
/ Football
TE
/ FootballCrimson Corner with Bill Riley - College football analyst Yogi Roth
Wednesday, May 06
Crimson Corner with Bill Riley - Utah Football Head Coach Morgan Scalley
Wednesday, April 29
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