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SALT LAKE CITY — Utah is known for it's stout, hard-nosed defenses. Ask anyone in the Pac-12 and they'll say how hard it is to go against Utah with their physicality and aggressiveness on the line of scrimmage. Teams dread the never-ending assault of the defense and are happy to finally see the game behind them.
They're the Stanford of the South, many say, which is meant as a compliment to how Utah doesn't fit in with the traditional offensive-heavy Pac-12 teams. Even Stanford head coach David Shaw, a guru at getting the most out of his players on the defensive side of the ball, speaks glowingly about Utah's physicality on the defensive side of the ball and how he's grateful he doesn't have to play them this year in the regular season.
Coming into the 2015 season, the question was how does Utah replace the impact of defensive end Nate Orchard. Before that, Trevor Reilly, Star Lotulelei, and the list goes on and on. Now, just more than halfway through the season, senior linebacker Gionni Paul appears to be the answer as Utah's latest defensive star.
One does not have to look farther than his performance against USC Saturday to see that Paul has taken over the defense and demands attention and respect from opposing teams. Paul gave his all Saturday, finishing the game with 17 total tackles, 5.5 tackles for loss, 1 forced fumble and a sack.
It's a game where Paul assumed his place as the team's leader on the defense. He said that realization came at the start of the second half when Utah was down 28-17 and the team needed a spark to bounce back from a rough second quarter.
"It really hit me the second half. I knew I was a leader," Paul said. "I look at myself as a leader, but when I look to my left and my right and I didn't see Jared Norris out there with me, I was like this is my team, I've got to step up. So I just said every tackle is going to be mine.
"That confidence, I know it's better late than never, it just hit me," he added. "Going forward, I believe I can fly around like that again."
Paul and Norris have had a special bond throughout the season, almost an unspoken understanding that each will take care of their own responsibilities while knowing exactly what the other is doing."Me and Jared, I don't know, we're just like a brotherhood," he said. "Jason Whittingham stepped in and did a great job, but you could tell a key piece was just missing from our defense."
Whittingham took the brunt of the attack Saturday as USC used crossing and pick routes to get quick passes off and extend the drive. But Paul kept the defense honest and held the Trojans to 116 rushing yards for an average of 2.58 yards per carry.
Although missing Norris forced Paul to step up and have a larger role on the team, head coach Kyle Whittingham said it's on each player to commit to their assignments and fill the need in a similar capacity.
"Everyone in this country's got injuries right now; there's not a team in the nation that's not banged up," Kyle Whittingham said. "We'll never, ever use 'we're injured' or 'we're young' or that bull crap; that's a bunch of crap. Guys out there have got to make the plays."
Paul has long been considered one of the most respected players on the team, with a work ethic and never-die attitude that extends to every facet of his game; from the practice field to the game, he's always working and giving it his all.
"During the week, nobody messes with G-Bo," freshman receiver Britain Covey said. "Come game time, he's your best friend because you know he's going to sell out for you. Every team needs somebody like that, that's just putting their body on the line game-in and game-out. It's amazing to have a guy like that on your team."
Covey said his first interaction with Paul on the practice field ended with him getting his helmet ripped off."I remember going up against G-Bo and then he just rips my helmet off. I'm like, oh my gosh, this guy is a beast. I don't want to mess with him," Covey said. "Everybody knows that he's a beast. But once you get out of the locker room he's the greatest guy of all time. It's great to have someone like that on your team."
"When I get on the field, I'm a little bit angry with everybody. I think you should play the game with a little anger," Paul said. "When we're on the field we ain't friends. I don't care if you're my teammates, if you line up against me, come on let's go. I'll make you better and you'll make me better. Just the competitive nature of the game just brings the best out of me. And when we step on the field Saturday together, then we can be friends and can enjoy the win together. But when we're practicing, I'm going all out."
Paul remains one of the best defenders in the Pac-12 and doesn't appear to be slowing down. If anything, he's gaining momentum as the season wears on. Paul is second in the Pac-12 in total tackles with 67, tied for second in forced fumbles with two, tied for third in tackles for loss with nine, and tied for sixth in interceptions with two.
Paul credits all his success and who he is to the University of Utah and the coaching staff's ability to provide a familial environment.
"I bought in. At the University of Miami, I didn't buy in as much. I was kind of a basket case, a knucklehead. I had to grow up as a young man," he said. "Utah really slowed my life down and made me grow up as a young man. I was able to become a leader on and off the field. I think that took my game to the next level.
"I'm big on family; I was built on family," he added. "The more I'm close to a guy, the harder I'll play for the next guy. When I had that family, that comfort level, it was easy to buy in."
