This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.
Merry Watch List season, everyone!
The list of lists has started counting off today, and a pair of Utah linemen are on thehttps://maxwellfootballclub.org/news/maxwell-football-club-announces-maxwell-and-bednarik-watch-lists-2016";> Bednarik Award watch list for best defensive player in the nation: Lowell Lotulelei and Kylie Fitts.
Lotulelei was a first-team all Pac-12 honoree at last year for the Utes as a sophomore defensive tackle, plugging the middle of the defense with 26 tackles including five for a loss. His name has been loosely floated as a potential early pick in next year's NFL Draft.
Fitts began his Utah career last fall after transferring from UCLA. He got seven sacks and four forced fumbles at end, but he's really know for his knack for batting down passes (10 pass deflections).
The Utes have won NCFAA awards in each of the last two years — both by the same guy, punter Tom Hackett who took home the Ray Guy Award twice. But defensive line is a consistent strength for the program, which has boasted Nate Orchard and Star Lotulelei among its more recent All-Americans at the position.
The chances of Utah winning the Bednarik? Well, there's 90 guys on the list right now — which doesn't include the guys we inevitably haven't heard of yet who will be monsters this fall.
But that's part of the fun of watch list season: It's all still possible. Spread the watch list cheer.
More items of Utah relevance:
• You'd expect a defensive line with two potential Bednarik candidates to rank highly among the nation's units.http://www.foxsports.com/college-football/story/michigan-boasts-the-best-defensive-front-in-the-land-070516";> In this ranking by Fox Sports' Bruce Feldman, Utah comes in at No. 3 among defensive lines, behind Michigan and Alabama. Quotable: "Kyle Whittingham's teams have been a handful for folks the past few seasons because they've had a pretty nasty bunch of D-linemen, and this group is no different."
• Utah's Kyle Kuzma is headed to Charlotte for Under Armour All-America camp this week through July 8. A 6-foot-9 junior, Kuzma is arguably Utah's top returning player on a team that won't return much: Only six players who were on last year's roster are back (and some didn't play). Kuzma averaged 10.8 ppg and 5.7 rpg last season as a starter for the Utes, and is one of 20 participants in the camp.
• Utah golf coach Garrett Clegg has added Kyler Dunkle, a transfer from Colorado State. The golf program has been in a pretty tough position since the Pac-12 move, but the Utes are hoping to start building into the league with Clegg at the helm and a few new golfers in the clubhouse.
• Sad news that you might've missed during the holiday weekend: Walter Watts, http://www.sltrib.com/sports/4075907-155/utah-basketball-walter-watts-key-player";>a key figure on Rick Majerus' first Sweet 16 team, has died. Watts was a three-sport athlete, and he was also father to a Utah football player, Walter Watts IV.
kgoon@sltrib.com
Twitter: @kylegoon