It’s turning into more and more uncommon within the switch portal period, however it’s occurring at Utah.
All three of Utah’s beginning linebackers have returned for 2024, and the group is shaping as much as be rock-solid in 2024, anchored by seniors Karene Reid and Levani Damuni and junior Lander Barton.
Like lots of Utah’s place teams final season, the linebacker unit needed to modify to accidents — Barton’s season ended after getting harm at USC on Oct. 21 — however the Utes didn’t miss a beat as skilled Stanford switch Damuni took on an elevated position for the remainder of the season.
In accordance with Professional Soccer Focus knowledge, Barton, Reid and Damuni all graded out within the high six gamers on Utah’s protection amongst gamers that performed 100 snaps or extra, and the attention check backed that up.
Barton made an enormous leap from his freshman to his sophomore season, flying all around the subject and making some impactful performs. He had 34 tackles, two interceptions (together with a pick-six), two move breakups and a compelled fumble in simply seven video games earlier than sustaining the season-ending damage.
Reid was a gradual drive with 67 tackles, an interception and 4 move breakups (third-most on the crew), whereas Damuni actually got here into his personal whereas taking part in elevated snaps from late October on — main the crew in tackles with 87 (2.5 for loss with a mixed sack).
Each Reid and Damuni elected to come back again for the 2024 season, fortifying a place that has been traditionally sturdy for Kyle Whittingham’s crew.
“Tremendous impactful,” Reid mentioned concerning the trio sticking collectively for an additional yr. “I feel it’s actually helped our management and we’ve been in a position to unfold out and develop the group sooner as a complete. I feel since my freshman yr, it’s been a brand new set of backers since 2021, and so simply management and maturity has been enormous up to now.”
That veteran management is necessary to have, particularly for the reason that linebackers are the “quarterbacks” of the protection. Defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley places a number of duty on the sturdy security and the linebackers to “talk just about every thing to everyone.”
“It makes it good, that’s for certain, to have the expertise. They’re primarily coaches on the sphere and do an important job,” linebackers coach Colton Swan mentioned.
Different returning contributors embrace sophomore Sione Fotu — who performed 110 snaps on protection final yr, the overwhelming majority at linebacker, with 18 tackles and a move breakup — and senior Josh Calvert, who performed 28 snaps with three tackles.
Whereas spring soccer is effective for each member of the crew — Reid mentioned that this yr’s camp focus is on takeaways, one thing the Utes’ protection has been traditionally good at however noticed a dip in final yr, taking the ball away 15 instances, rating 97th within the nation — it’s particularly necessary within the improvement of underclassmen.
The beginning spots are seemingly locked up for the yr, however gamers are working to turn out to be major backups and see the sphere in sure conditions. The linebacker room noticed Justin Medlock and Owen Chambliss switch out within the offseason, plus Hayden Furey and Jason Siaosi graduate, so there’s now alternative for a number of the younger guys to show themselves and maybe crack the two-deep.
Three-star 2024 signees Hunter Andrews and Kana’i Lopes are two true freshmen which have caught Swan’s eye up to now in Utah’s opening week of follow. Andrews primarily performed working again in his senior season at Magnolia Excessive College in Magnolia, Texas, however mentioned that he might have the next ceiling at linebacker in school. Lopes had 45 tackles and a fumble restoration for St. John Bosco Excessive College in Bellflower, California.
“Each of these guys are doing nice issues. They’ve obtained a really excessive ceiling, very promising in what they’ve proven to date,” Swan mentioned.
Returned missionaries Moroni Anae, who walked onto the crew in 2018, noticed motion in three video games on protection in 2020, after which left for a Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints mission, is now again with crew. Trey Reynolds, who performed seven snaps within the 2021 season, additionally returned house from his mission and has been collaborating in spring ball.
“Each of these guys have been in this system earlier than, in order that they is perhaps just a little bit forward of the 2 freshmen that I discussed earlier. However out of these 4 guys, a number of actual promise from younger gamers, from an athletic standpoint, from a psychological standpoint, doing nice issues and actually excited for the way forward for them,” Swan mentioned.
The linebacker group must be the sturdy level on Utah’s protection with three skilled gamers main the way in which.
“That is my fourth yr, my senior yr, so I’m simply making an attempt to squeeze every thing that I’ve left in me, man,” Reid mentioned.
