Pictured during minicamp, Spencer Fano (55) is embarking on his rookie NFL season after being drafted by Cleveland in the first round this past Spring.
Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Utes in the Pros: Preseason Week 1
8/13/2026 10:33 AM | Football
Seven Utah alumni embarking on their rookie NFL season
SALT LAKE CITY – Kickoff of the NFL season is a little closer with the arrival of Preseason Week 1 on Thursday night. Fourteen games across the schedule are expected to have at least one Utah Football alumnus in uniform, totaling 35 Pro Utes on team rosters throughout the NFL.
Players are continuing to battle for spots as teams approach the NFL's August 30 deadline to trim rosters to 53 players.
Though the regular season will mark their official debuts, this weekend will mark a special milestone for seven Utah alumni embarking on their rookie seasons. The group includes first-round NFL Draft selections Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, fellow offensive linemen Jaren Kump and Tanoa Togiai, tight end Dallen Bentley, defensive end Logan Fano and linebacker Lander Barton.
In addition to the field, former Utah Utes are making their mark on NFL sidelines as well. Former quarterback Brian Johnson (2004-08) is now on the Los Angeles Rams' staff as a senior offensive assistant, while Utah signal-caller Mike McCoy (1992-94) has joined the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant head coach.
Preseason Week 1 Viewing Guide (players on active rosters)
Thursday, August 13
Detroit at Cincinnati – 5 p.m. MT – Local TV
Indianapolis at New England – 5:30 p.m. MT – Local TV
LA Chargers at Houston – 6 p.m. – Local TV
Arizona at Las Vegas – 6 p.m. MT – Local TV
Tennessee at San Francisco – 7 p.m. MT – NFL Network
Friday, August 14
Denver at Atlanta – 5 p.m. MT – Local TV
Tampa Bay at NY Jets – 5 p.m. MT – NFL Network
Miami at Washington – 5 p.m. – Local TV
Saturday, August 15
Carolina at Buffalo – 11 a.m. MT – Local TV
Cleveland at Chicago – 11 a.m. MT – NFL Network
Minnesota at NY Giants – 11 a.m. MT – Local TV
Jacksonville at New Orleans – 2 p.m. MT – Local TV
Philadelphia at Baltimore – 5 p.m. MT – Local TV
Dallas at Seattle – 6 p.m. MT – NFL Network
UTES IN THE NFL (35)
Updated 8.13.26
Offensive Line (6)
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Braeden Daniels........................ Las Vegas
Spencer Fano (R)...................... Cleveland
Jaren Kump (R)........................... Chicago
Caleb Lomu (R)................... New England
Tanoa Togiai (R).................... Washington
Quarterbacks (1)
Tyler Huntley............................ Baltimore
Running Backs (1)
Sione Vaki.................................... Detroit
Wide Receivers (3)
Britain Covey........................ Philadelphia
Tim Patrick.................................. NY Jets
Devaughn Vele..................... New Orleans
Tight Ends (4)
Dallen Bentley (R)........................ Denver
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Caleb Lohner................................ Denver
Thomas Yassmin...... Green Bay (Int. Res.)
Defensive Line (3)
Logan Fano (R)........................ Cleveland
Leki Fotu................................. NY Giants
Junior Tafuna............................... NY Jets
Linebackers (8)
Cody Barton............................. Tennessee
Lander Barton (R)................. LA Chargers
Mohamoud Diabate.................. Tennessee
Jonah Elliss.................................. Denver
Devin Lloyd................................ Carolina
Connor O'Toole............................. Seattle
Karene Reid.................................. Denver
Nephi Sewell............................... Chicago
Defensive Backs (7)
Miles Battle.................................... Miami
Cole Bishop................................. Buffalo
Julian Blackmon................... New Orleans
Terrell Burgess..................... New Orleans
Jaylon Johnson............................ Chicago
Clark Phillips III............................ Atlanta
Zemaiah Vaughn...................... Minnesota
Special Teams (2)
Matt Gay (K)............................ Las Vegas
Mitch Wishnowsky (P)................. Buffalo
Key
Int. Res.................... Reserve/International
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
Players are continuing to battle for spots as teams approach the NFL's August 30 deadline to trim rosters to 53 players.
Though the regular season will mark their official debuts, this weekend will mark a special milestone for seven Utah alumni embarking on their rookie seasons. The group includes first-round NFL Draft selections Spencer Fano and Caleb Lomu, fellow offensive linemen Jaren Kump and Tanoa Togiai, tight end Dallen Bentley, defensive end Logan Fano and linebacker Lander Barton.
In addition to the field, former Utah Utes are making their mark on NFL sidelines as well. Former quarterback Brian Johnson (2004-08) is now on the Los Angeles Rams' staff as a senior offensive assistant, while Utah signal-caller Mike McCoy (1992-94) has joined the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant head coach.
Preseason Week 1 Viewing Guide (players on active rosters)
Thursday, August 13
Detroit at Cincinnati – 5 p.m. MT – Local TV
- Detroit: #33 Sione Vaki
Indianapolis at New England – 5:30 p.m. MT – Local TV
- New England: #74 Caleb Lomu
LA Chargers at Houston – 6 p.m. – Local TV
- LA Chargers: #57 Lander Barton
Arizona at Las Vegas – 6 p.m. MT – Local TV
- Las Vegas: #79 Braeden Daniels, #14 Matt Gay
Tennessee at San Francisco – 7 p.m. MT – NFL Network
- Tennessee: #50 Cody Barton, #44 Mohamoud Diabate
Friday, August 14
Denver at Atlanta – 5 p.m. MT – Local TV
- Denver: #89 Dallen Bentley, #72 Garett Bolles, #52 Jonah Elliss, #84 Caleb Lohner, #47 Karene Reid
- Atlanta: #22 Clark Phillips III
Tampa Bay at NY Jets – 5 p.m. MT – NFL Network
- NY Jets: #17 Tim Patrick, #62 Junior Tafuna
Miami at Washington – 5 p.m. – Local TV
- Miami: #35 Miles Battles
- Washington: #62 Tanoa Togiai
Saturday, August 15
Carolina at Buffalo – 11 a.m. MT – Local TV
- Carolina: #55 Devin Lloyd
- Buffalo: #24 Cole Bishop, #86 Dalton Kincaid, #19 Mitch Wishnowsky
Cleveland at Chicago – 11 a.m. MT – NFL Network
- Cleveland: #97 Logan Fano, #55 Spencer Fano
- Chicago: #1 Jaylon Johnson, #64 Jaren Kump, #45 Nephi Sewell
Minnesota at NY Giants – 11 a.m. MT – Local TV
- Minnesota: #34 Zemaiah Vaughn
- NY Giants: #90 Leki Fotu
Jacksonville at New Orleans – 2 p.m. MT – Local TV
- New Orleans: #23 Julian Blackmon, #26 Terrell Burgess, #14 Devaughn Vele
Philadelphia at Baltimore – 5 p.m. MT – Local TV
- Philadelphia: #18 Britain Covey
- Baltimore: #5 Tyler Huntley
Dallas at Seattle – 6 p.m. MT – NFL Network
- Seattle: #57 Connor O'Toole
UTES IN THE NFL (35)
Updated 8.13.26
Offensive Line (6)
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Braeden Daniels........................ Las Vegas
Spencer Fano (R)...................... Cleveland
Jaren Kump (R)........................... Chicago
Caleb Lomu (R)................... New England
Tanoa Togiai (R).................... Washington
Quarterbacks (1)
Tyler Huntley............................ Baltimore
Running Backs (1)
Sione Vaki.................................... Detroit
Wide Receivers (3)
Britain Covey........................ Philadelphia
Tim Patrick.................................. NY Jets
Devaughn Vele..................... New Orleans
Tight Ends (4)
Dallen Bentley (R)........................ Denver
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Caleb Lohner................................ Denver
Thomas Yassmin...... Green Bay (Int. Res.)
Defensive Line (3)
Logan Fano (R)........................ Cleveland
Leki Fotu................................. NY Giants
Junior Tafuna............................... NY Jets
Linebackers (8)
Cody Barton............................. Tennessee
Lander Barton (R)................. LA Chargers
Mohamoud Diabate.................. Tennessee
Jonah Elliss.................................. Denver
Devin Lloyd................................ Carolina
Connor O'Toole............................. Seattle
Karene Reid.................................. Denver
Nephi Sewell............................... Chicago
Defensive Backs (7)
Miles Battle.................................... Miami
Cole Bishop................................. Buffalo
Julian Blackmon................... New Orleans
Terrell Burgess..................... New Orleans
Jaylon Johnson............................ Chicago
Clark Phillips III............................ Atlanta
Zemaiah Vaughn...................... Minnesota
Special Teams (2)
Matt Gay (K)............................ Las Vegas
Mitch Wishnowsky (P)................. Buffalo
Key
Int. Res.................... Reserve/International
FOLLOW THE UTES
Follow the Utes on social media through Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and TikTok along with visiting www.UtahUtes.com. Download the Utah 360 app here.
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