In the era of the transfer portal, that's become increasingly rare, but it's happening in Utah.
All three of Utah's starting linebackers will return in 2024, and the group looks set to be solid in 2024 with seniors Karene Reed and Levani Damuni and junior Lander Burton.
Like many of Utah's position groups last season, the linebacker unit had to adjust to injuries — Barton's season ended with an injury on Oct. 21 against the University of Southern California. -However, with the experienced Damuni, who transferred from Stanford University, taking on a high role, Utah never let up. for the rest of the season.
Barton, Reid and Damuni all rank in the top six on Utah's defense among players with at least 100 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus data, and the eye test backs that up. Ta.
Barton made a huge leap from his freshman to sophomore season, flying all over the field and making some impactful plays. In just seven games before suffering his season-ending injury, he recorded 34 tackles, two interceptions (including a pick-six), two pass breakups, and one forced fumble.
Reed was a stable force with 67 tackles, 1 interception, and 4 pass breakups (third most on the team), while Damuni showed his true potential as he increased the number of snaps from late October, making tackles and He was the top of the team with 87 hits (2.5 times on the team). loss in the binding bag).
Both Reed and Damni elected to return for the 2024 season, strengthening a historically strong position for Kyle Whittingham's team.
Reed said it would be “very impactful” for the trio to remain together for another year. “I think that really helped our leadership and allowed us to develop and develop the group as a whole more quickly. I think since our first year, we've had new supporters coming in from 2021, so we've improved our leadership and maturity. I think the degree alone has been huge so far.”
Linebackers in particular are the “quarterbacks” of the defense, so it's important to have veteran leadership. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scully is putting a lot of responsibility on his strong safeties and linebackers to “tell pretty much everything to everyone.”
“It's definitely good to get some experience. They're basically the coaches on the field and they do a great job,” linebackers coach Colton Swan said.
Other returning contributors include sophomore Sione Fotu, who played 110 snaps on defense last year (18 tackles and one pass breakup, mostly at linebacker) and three tackles for loss. That includes fourth-year senior Josh Calvert, who played 28 snaps.
While spring football is valuable for all members of the team, Coach Reed said this year's camp is focused on takeaways. The Utes' defense has historically been an area of strength, but it slumped last year, ranking 97th in giving up the ball 15 times. In this country, it is especially important in the development of underclassmen.
While the starting slot will likely be locked in for the rest of the year, the players are working hard to become the primary backups and be on the field in certain situations. In the linebacker room, with the offseason transfers of Justin Medlock and Owen Chambliss, plus the graduation of Hayden Fury and Jason Xiaosi, several young players will prove themselves and perhaps move up to the second division. The opportunity has arrived.
Three-star 2024 signees Hunter Andrews and Kanai Lopez are two true freshmen who have caught the Swans' attention so far in Utah's opening week of practice. Andrews played primarily as a running back during his senior season at Magnolia High School in Magnolia, Texas, but said his ceiling could be higher as a linebacker in college. Lopez recorded 45 tackles and a fumble recovery at St. John Bosco High School in Bellflower, California.
“Those two guys are doing great things. Their ceiling is very high and what they've shown so far is very promising,” Swan said.
Returned missionary Moroni Anae, who joined the team in 2018 and appeared in three games on defense in 2020 before leaving to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, returns to the team. Trey Reynolds, who played seven snaps in the 2021 season, also returned from duty and is participating in spring ball.
“These two guys have been in the program before, so they might be a little bit further along than the two freshmen I mentioned earlier. But of these four, the younger players are athletically and mentally. They've really shown promise in terms of the future, they've done great things, and I'm really looking forward to their future,” Swan said.
The linebacker group should be a strong point of Utah's defense, with three experienced players leading the way.
“This is my fourth year, my senior year, so I’m just trying to squeeze out everything I have left in me,” Reed said.
