Utes behind the lines: Linebackers

SALT LAKE CITY -- In their most recent win against the Pittsburgh Panthers, the defense got a lot of attention for holding the country's leading rusher to under 100 yards. Additionally, the team allowed no offensive scores from a decent Pitt team. Much of the win can be credited to the tough play of Utah's linebackers, who work tirelessly to add pressure to the opposing team.

As some of the oldest and most experienced players on the team, the linebackers are a real threat, leading the team in tackles and defensive stops. Here is a look at some of the linebackers that make up Utah's defense.

Chaz Walker

Player Profiles:

Chaz Walker

• Number: 32
• Class: Senior
• Hometown: Farmington, Utah
• High School: Davis HS
• Height /Weight: 6-0 /223
• Birthdate: 09/30/1988
• Experience: 3VL

J.J. Williams

• Number: 13
• Class: Senior
• Hometown: Aurora, Colo.
• High School: Grandview HS
• Height /Weight: 6-0 /220
• Birthdate: 02/26/1986
• Experience: 3VL

Matt Martinez

• Number: 52
• Class: Senior
• Hometown: Murray, Utah
• High School: Cottonwood HS
• Height /Weight: 6-0 /225
• Birthdate: 01/21/1988
• Experience: 3VL

Trevor Reilly

• Number: 49
• Class: Sophomore
• Hometown: CValley Center, Calif.
• High School: Valley Center HS
• Height /Weight: 6-5 /238
• Birthdate: 01/17/1988
• Experience: 1VL

Once a former walk-on safety, senior Chaz Walker now leads the team in tackles as a starting linebacker. This season, Walker has 50 total tackles, with one for a loss of yards. He has also added one pass deflection and has forced a fumble. Last season, Walker started for the Utes, being named second-team all-MWC linebacker, finishing with 113 total tackles, two sacks, two interceptions and a pass deflection.

At Davis High School, Walker led the state with eight interceptions in 2006, leading his high school with 132 tackles as a senior. He was also named All-American, all- state, all-region and all-county safety.

Walker said he tried to follow Sean Taylor of the Washington Redskins when he was younger. "He was a lot bigger and a lot faster than I was, but I loved the way he played and the way he practiced, so I wanted to be like him as much as I could."

Preparing for every game, Walker said he has one thing he has to do alone: "I kinda gotta tape my own ankles and my own wrists. I guess that's a superstition I've got. I don't know if I just don't trust anyone."

Playing as a safety throughout high school, Walker said the change to linebacker has been a good fit. "Probably moving to backer was one of the best things that could have happened to me," he said. "I'm probably closer to most of the backers than most of my friends growing up with."

J.J. Williams

Starting at Air Force, J.J. Williams left the school and walked onto the Utes squad, playing in every game as a true freshman before leaving on a LDS mission. Since returning to the Utes, Williams has been a strong defensive presence for the team. This year, Williams has 12 total tackles, with one for a loss of yards, and an interception and pass deflection.

Growing up in Colorado, Williams became a fan of the Denver Broncos, but followed players Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson. "I'm an old school guy," he said. "I used to love Ronnie Lott and Rod Woodson is my favorite player of all time. He was making the Pro Bowl when he was like 40 years old."

As a Broncos fan, Williams said he's also had a love-hate relationship with Tim Tebow, saying, "I didn't like him at Florida, but now he's one of the Broncos so I kinda have to like him."

Prior to every game, Williams said he likes to listen to Reggae music to "get in the zone." However, he divulged his favorite music, which is something many football players would probably shy away from. "I'm a Justin Beiber fan -- JB. Me and my fiance like Justin Beiber," he said.

Prior to every game, he said there is one thing he and Matt Martinez always do. "We usually take a shower before the game -- hot-cold to warm the muscles up, wake up a bit."

Matt Martinez

As another walk-on for the Utes defense, Matt Martinez has been a dominant force for the team as one of the leading tacklers on the team. Martinez has 35 total tackles, with 3.5 for a loss this year. He also has had two sacks for 15 yards, one recovered fumble and a blocked kick. Last season, Martinez started for the first time, becoming the team's second-leading tackler with 91 total tackles, 1.5 sacks and a returned interception for a 36-yard touchdown against New Mexico.

Despite his recent success, Martinez said his favorite moment as a Utes player was in the 2008 season when the Utes beat Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. "It was awesome. It was a cool situation down there, going down to there, winning the Sugar Bowl with Alabama fans."

Martinez said he has followed the game of Terrell Davis, sharing a similar medical condition with the former Broncos running back. "I read up on how he had migraines and I kinda had the same situation. I read his biography and followed him and that's what brought me to the Broncos, and I've kinda watched them since then."

As close linebacker friends, Martinez said the players like to have fun and "not take everything so serious." He said the team is able to "play better and don't get under pressure with that kind of situation."

Each week, the linebackers try to go out to dinner together, calling it the "KONGO dinner."

Trevor Reilly

Also a walk-on for the Utes, Trevor Reilly has been an aggressive defensive threat, scoping out the opposing team's game and stopping it in its tracks. Following the defeat over in-state rival BYU, Reilly was named the Pac- 12 Defensive Player of the Week for his three forced fumbles and two sacks. This season, Reilly has 17 total tackles, with eight for a loss of 75 yards. He has also had four sacks for a loss of 38 yards, four forced fumbles, one recovered fumble and one pass deflection. Reilly is the team's leader in sacks and forced fumbles.

In high school, Reilly was named second-team all-CIF at Valley Center HS where he had 83 tackles with 13 tackles for a loss, one recovered fumble and six sacks during his senior year. He also earned the National Football Foundation's Willie Jones Most Inspirational Player Award from the San Diego Chapter.

Growing up in southern California, Reilly was a big fan of the USC Trojans. He said it was a great opportunity to play his favorite team in the Coliseum this year. "For me it was crazy," he said. "I went to all their games when (Reggie) Bush was playing and (Matt) Leinhart. So to come out of their tunnel and play there was a big deal."

As a married player with a child, Reilly said he wished only one thing was different: "Besides not making any money, getting ripped off, it's alright. We're getting exploited by the system," he joked. "What's the difference between this and minor league baseball?"

*Email: jfurlong@ksl.com*Twitter: @JFurKSL

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