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SALT LAKE CITY — I've covered all 66 Power Five programs since 2012 in my annual preseason magazine Pick Six Previews, and while other national outlets continue to focus too much on the Los Angeles programs, I quickly caught on to what was being built in Salt Lake City.
Without the five-star signing day hype of their LA rivals, Utah's staff has excelled at prospect identification, player development, team culture, and scheme design to maximize their potential on the field.
This program has been my Pac-12 "diamond in the rough," and a key reason why my preview magazine has outperformed all other preseason publications over the past 10-year and five-year averages, per Stassen Accuracy. I selected Utah as a playoff team in 2019 (despite the No. 14 preseason Associated Press ranking) and made it to the final day with a win-and-in scenario.
Although the Utes came up short in that Pac-12 title game, they again proved me right in 2021 as I was the only publication to correctly call for a South Division title.
Much like the football program, the fan base does not receive the national attention they deserve. Utah fans are laser-focused all 365 days on Twitter, hold the third-longest active sell-out streak in America (70 straight games), and on big plays they shake the television cameras in Rice-Eccles Stadium to earthquake proportions. It's been a pleasure to meet and interact with so many Utah fans and media both in-person and online.
So I could not be more excited to accept the weekly in-season role as a contributor with KSL.com. We'll follow along together game-by-game with a mix of film review and my Game Grader analytics. And of course, I hope the Utes prove me right one more time — not only with a second consecutive Pac-12 title, but this time with the sport's crown jewel: a College Football Playoff bid.
Offense
Once Utah made the quarterback change from initial starter Charlie Brewer to Cameron Rising, the offense changed overnight and the team rounded into playoff-caliber in November. With Rising under center, Utah scored a 78 Game Grader average, which would have been good enough for fourth overall. Rising returns along with touchdown-machine Tavion Thomas and leader Micah Bernard in the backfield.
The offensive line placed No. 1 nationally in my Run Push metric, No. 2 in Pass Protection, and was the only line to finish in the top 5 of both. The line returns three starters off of that high-performing 2021 front.
Both star tight ends return and they took both spots on my preseason All-Pac 12 offense. Dalton Kincaid had 510 receiving yards and eight touchdowns, while Brant Kuithe pulled off the rare feat as a tight end with four career rushing touchdowns. Offensive coordinator Andy Ludwig has been creative in getting the ball to his tight ends, and I expect that to continue. In the spring game, Kuithe was experimenting with more reps in the slot.
An uncertainty is at wide receiver, but aside from departing Britain Covey, the next five are all back. In spring ball, Devaughn Vele emerged as a potential No. 1 target, and reports out of fall camp are all eluding to Money Parks surging into a star player.
Defense
Only eight programs have placed in the Top 25 of my opponent-adjusted, per-play defensive percentiles for each of the past five seasons (2017-21). Utah is one of them, and they appear poised to make it six straight years.
Yes, the defense loses its top four tacklers, top two in sacks, and All-America linebacker Devin Lloyd, but there is more than enough firepower to remain a strength.
Defensive tackle Junior Tafuna was named the Pac-12 Freshman Defender of the Year and end Van Fillinger led all Pac-12 freshmen with 5.5 sacks. Clark Phillips and Cole Bishop are both All-America candidates in the secondary, and Utah looks to continue their nation-best streak of seasons with a pick six (18 straight years).
I always enjoy my talks with defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley, and he has proven himself as one of the best defensive minds in the game. They don't "rebuild" defenses at Utah, they "reload."
Outlook
In the 2022 edition of Pick Six Previews, I selected Utah to win the Pac-12 and also earn a playoff bid.
The opener against Florida, in The Swamp, will be difficult, but if the Utes can clear that hurdle they will be vaulted into the national top 5 and be favored in every game the rest of the year. I see an 11-1 regular season and then a Pac-12 title win in a rematch of either Oregon or USC (thanks to the Pac-12's move to No. 1 vs. No. 2 instead of the traditional North vs. South).
During the spring game telecast, two Utah seniors looked directly into the camera and confidently stated that the team goal was to make the playoffs. I think they will hit that target in 2022.
