PlainsUte

#41 Jonathon Johnson, Freshman RB, 6-2 278
Jon Johnson, son of Jerome Johnson (Okla 1982-83 and USU 1984-85 basketball), transferred in from Nouthwestern Oklahoma State where he was on the football team in 2020 but their season was cancelled due to COVID.  His brother, Nate, Freshman QB, is also a Utah newcomer.  Jon played for Clovis HS in…[Read more]

#42 is vacant following the departure of DE Mika Tafua to the Dallas Cowboys.
6 Weeks to Kickoff!

#43 Gavin Nawahine, RS Freshman DE, 6-2, 247
Gavin is a walk-on from Meridian, Idaho, Rocky Mountain HS after serving a 2-year mission in Samoa.  At RMHS he was a first-team all-conference selection as a senior.   His older brother, Spanky, and grandfather, Bill Cravens, played football at Utah, and his sisters, Malia (Utah 2013-17) and Valerie…[Read more]

Award for best TE…   others of interest to Ute Fans…
Camren McDonald, FloridaBenjamin Yurosek, StanfordTerrance Ferguson, OregonBrady Russell, ColoradoLuke Musgrave, Oregon StateDevin Culp, WashingtonMalcom Epps, USC
Full Watchlist, John Mackey Award 2022

#44 is vacant so I’ll leave you this pic of #44 LB Joe Jianonni (Utah 2003-2007).

Not too big of a deal since 75 players are named.
Also on the watch list in the Pac-12:
Zach Charbonnet (Sr.), UCLAByron Cardwell (So.), OregonTravis Dye (Sr.), USCDeshaun Fenwick (Jr.), Oregon StateAlex Fontenot (Sr.), ColoradoDamien Moore (Jr.), CalE.J. Smith (Jr.), StanfordXazavian Valladay (Sr.), Arizona State
Arizona, Washington and…[Read more]

#45 jersey is vacant after Sione Tuha, who was a 2020 walk-on from Provo HS, is no longer on the roster.   Can’t find any further info on Tuha.

Two-for-Tuesday…
#46 Hayden Erickson, RS Freshman TE, 6-2, 254
Hayden is from Lehi, Utah via a 2-year mission in Chile.  He played football and basketball at Lehi HS, graduating in 2018.  His senior year he play OL and DE, recording 13 TFL, 7 sacks among his 37 tackles.   He walked-on at Utah in Spring, 2021, and did not see action during the…[Read more]

#47 Miki Sugururaga, RS Sophomore DE, 6-4, 265
Miki Sugururaga (me-key soo-ga-too-wrong-guh) hails from Kaneohe, Hawaii where he attended Punahou School.  At Punahou School he was named 2016 ILH Division I Defensive MVP and first-team USA Today All-USA Hawaii.  He also competed in Track & Field, discus and shot put.   At Utah he redshirted in…[Read more]

#48 Deven Johnson, RS Freshman TE, 6-4 240
Deven is a walk-on from Salem Hills HS in Salem, UT.  He was first team All-State and All-Region as a senior recording 54 receptions for 698 yards (12.9 ypc) and 6 TDs.  He also played defensive end for the Skyhawks in addition to playing basketball and baseball.  Deven did not see playing time for the…[Read more]

Jersey #49 is vacant after LB/DE Elijah Shelton transferred to UNLV

#50 Fua Pututau, RS Junior DT, 6-1 297
Fua Pututau (foo-uh poo-too-tao) is a DT from Cottonwood HS, joining the Utes in 2018 after a 2-year mission.  The Utes are stacked with Pututaus, his brother Hauati (Utah 2017-21) just signed a free agent contract the Green Bay Packers, brother Taniela is a RS Freshman TE and cousin Tennessee is a sophomore…[Read more]

#51 Keaton Bills, Sophomore OL, 6-4 318
Keaton has recently been the Utes starter at Left Guard.   He is originally from Corner Canyon HS, where he played both ways and earned many accolades for his defense.  He signed with the Utes in 2016, but left on a two-year mission.   When he returned, the Ute staff assigned him to the OBlock where he has…[Read more]

#52 Mason Tufaga, RS Freshman LB, 6-1, 225
Mason Tufaga is the son of Wes Tufaga (Utah LB 1997-2000).  His grandfather was a fire-and-ice long-knife dancer in Hawaii.  Mason was born in Utah, but grew up in Hawaii going to St. Louis High School, in Honolulu.  Mason was a 4-star recruit at LB, considered the 2nd-best player in Hawaii and 15th best…[Read more]

#53 Johnny Maea, Junior OL, 6-4, 311
Johnny Maea (may-ay-ah) is a local from East High.   He graduated in 2015, after being selected a All-USA Utah team player in 2015.   East High won the 4A State Championship his senior year.  Served a two-year mission in Panama, then joined the Utes in 2018.  He played in 9 games in 2019, 1 games in 2020, and…[Read more]

Double-Bill today…
#54 Hayden Furey, Junior LB, 6-2, 226
Hayden is from Sarasota Springs, UT; he graduated from Westlake HS in 2018, where he played basketball and football.  In his senior year for the Thunder had 49 tackles, 2 for loss, and a pass breakup on defense and 39 catches for 526 yds and 6 TDs on ohfense.   At Utah he played mainly…[Read more]

#55 Andrew Mata’afa, Junior LB, 6-3, 223
Drew Mata’afa (mah-tah-ah-fah) is originally from San Diego, Mt Carmel HS, where he played LB and WR.  He was also on their volleyball team.  Drew has seen increasing time on special teams and as a reserve at DE and LB over the past few years, recording 5 tackles in the 2021.  He has become one of the…[Read more]

#56 is vacant after Rob Bonar, RS Sophomore LB transferred to Lamar University.

#57 JT Greep, Sophomore Long Snapper, 6-0,221
JT Greep is a Glendora, CA product (Simi Valley east of LA).   He had been named the #1 long snapper out of California.  In 2021 he played in the last 9 games for the Utes, including snapping for Redding’s 50-yarder vs Oregon.  Freshman, Logan Castor is the only other long snapper on the roster, so I…[Read more]