FOOTBALL ■ Went 10-4 overall and 7-2 in conference play to advance to the Pac-12 Championship game for the fourth time since 2018. ■ Won its second consecutive Pac-12 title with 47-24 triumph over No. 4 USC, earning a Rose Bowl berth for the second year in a row and the program’s fourth appearance in a New Year Six bowl game.
■ Finished No. 8 in final CFP rankings, No. 10 in the Associated Press Top 25 and 11th in AFCA Coaches Poll.
■ Head Coach Kyle Whittingham was a Bobby Dodd National Coach of the Year finalist.
■ Cornerback Clark Phillips III earned unanimous All-America honors, becoming the fourth Ute overall to do so and the first defensive player. He was named the AP Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, a finalist for the Thorpe Award, semifinalist for the Bednarik Award. He recorded nine career interceptions that included a school-record-tying four pick-sixes. ■ Tight end Dalton Kincaid was an Associated Press third team All-American and a John Mackey Award semifinalist. He put up a team-high 70 receptions and led all FBS tight ends with 890 receiving yards and 74.2 receiving yards per game during the regular season. His eight touchdowns ranked second among FBS tight ends.
■ Offensive linemen Braeden Daniels and Sataoa Laumea joined Phillips and Kincaid on the All-Pac-12 first team.
■ Defensive tackle Junior Tafuna and linebacker Karene Reid both earned second team All-Pac-12 honors and return in 2023.
■ Lander Barton named Pac-12 Freshman Defensive Player of the Year.
■ Three Utes were taken in the 2023 NFL Draft, led by tight end Dalton Kincaid,who was taken as the No. 25 overall pick in the first round. He became Utah’s 10th first round selection in program history. Defensive back Clark Phillips III and offensive lineman Braeden Daniels were both fourth round selections.
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker