Fifth-year pro Devin Lloyd is beginning his first season with the Panthers.
Photo by: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
Utes in the Pros: NFL is Back!
8/6/2026 10:30 AM | Football
Former Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year Devin Lloyd begins first season with Panthers
SALT LAKE CITY – Though there's still about a month before the real thing, fans can get an early preview of the 2026 NFL season when the Hall of Fame Game kicks off Thursday night in Canton, Ohio, with the Carolina Panthers taking on the Arizona Cardinals.
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. MT on NBC, with former Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd beginning his first season as a member of the Panthers' roster.
The full slate of preseason action begins on August 13 with Week 1 kicking off on September 9. Across the entire league, there are 33 Pro Utes currently on team rosters.
Lloyd, who starred with the Utes from 2017-21, is a fifth-year pro and began his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was named All-Pro in 2025 and earned a spot at the Pro Bowl Games at the end of the season. As a free agent this past offseason, he signed a three-year contract with the Panthers.
Lloyd was voted a captain by his teammates in 2021, helping lead the squad to a Pac-12 Championship while the Utes mourned the tragic losses of two teammates in less than a year. As a senior that season, he was named a consensus All-American, the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, AP Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for both the Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
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 signal-caller Mike McCoy (1992-94) has joined the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant head coach.
UTES IN THE NFL (33)
Updated 8.5.26
Offensive Line (5)
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Spencer Fano............................ Cleveland
Jaren Kump................................. Chicago
Caleb Lomu......................... New England
Tanoa Togiai......................... 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.............................. Denver
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Caleb Lohner................................ Denver
Thomas Yassmin...... Green Bay (Int. Res.)
Defensive Line (2)
Logan Fano.............................. Cleveland
Leki Fotu................................. NY Giants
Linebackers (8)
Cody Barton............................. Tennessee
Lander Barton....................... 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.
Kickoff is at 6 p.m. MT on NBC, with former Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd beginning his first season as a member of the Panthers' roster.
The full slate of preseason action begins on August 13 with Week 1 kicking off on September 9. Across the entire league, there are 33 Pro Utes currently on team rosters.
Lloyd, who starred with the Utes from 2017-21, is a fifth-year pro and began his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars. He was named All-Pro in 2025 and earned a spot at the Pro Bowl Games at the end of the season. As a free agent this past offseason, he signed a three-year contract with the Panthers.
How did Devin Lloyd get ready for training camp? By watching film with Luke Kuechlyhttps://t.co/lrcGf9u3sN
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) July 25, 2026
Lloyd was voted a captain by his teammates in 2021, helping lead the squad to a Pac-12 Championship while the Utes mourned the tragic losses of two teammates in less than a year. As a senior that season, he was named a consensus All-American, the Pat Tillman Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, AP Defensive Player of the Year and a finalist for both the Butkus Award and Lott IMPACT Trophy.
"I'm sorry did you say Utes?" Great time hanging with these dudes!! #RSNB pic.twitter.com/mCZGTxyHEE
— Morgan Scalley (@RSNBUtes) June 25, 2026
Devin Lloyd: PFF's LB2 in the 2022 NFL Draft ??pic.twitter.com/k0Ag4Acy2d
— PFF (@PFF) December 4, 2021
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 signal-caller Mike McCoy (1992-94) has joined the Las Vegas Raiders as assistant head coach.
UTES IN THE NFL (33)
Updated 8.5.26
Offensive Line (5)
Garett Bolles................................. Denver
Spencer Fano............................ Cleveland
Jaren Kump................................. Chicago
Caleb Lomu......................... New England
Tanoa Togiai......................... 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.............................. Denver
Dalton Kincaid............................. Buffalo
Caleb Lohner................................ Denver
Thomas Yassmin...... Green Bay (Int. Res.)
Defensive Line (2)
Logan Fano.............................. Cleveland
Leki Fotu................................. NY Giants
Linebackers (8)
Cody Barton............................. Tennessee
Lander Barton....................... 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 Mentioned
LB
/ Football
TE
/ Football
DE
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football
OL
/ Football No videos available.
