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Ann Arbor, Mich. • Maybe it was a few drops of rain, leftover from the torrential downpour, that were gathering by Gionni Paul's eyes on Saturday night.

Only he knows for sure.

But the Utes linebacker, who came from Florida after stalling in Miami, did seem to find his words catching in his throat when he tried to articulate how he felt playing his first college game in nearly two years.

"It was fun, energetic, loving, caring," he said, between a few intakes of breath. "I feel like we a family, man. I ain't feel nothing like this. It was a great win, and I'm happy — blessed to be here."

The Ute family has brought in quite a few new members this past season, or switched some veterans to new roles. Three games in, Utah is a family that wins together.

Paul, a junior transfer, might've had the most anticipated start of any Ute coming off the scout team, but the hype was justified in his Big House debut. Gathering 14 tackles, picking off Devin Gardner and gathering a fourth quarter fumble that finally put Michigan on ice, it was easy to forget the Utes were playing without starting linebacker Jason Whittingham.

It wasn't as if it was completely out of nowhere: Paul was a two-time ACC linebacker of the week for the Hurricanes, and despite his recovery from a foot fracture, coaches praised him in the week leading up to the road trip. Utah needed Paul to step up in the eventual 26-10 win.

Boy, coach Kyle Whittingham said, did he ever.

"Having Gionni in there, he's a playmaker, and that's exactly what he does in practice," he said. "He has a knack to turn the ball over. That's exactly what this defense needs."

In his post-game press conference, Whittingham's eyes seemed to scan an invisible list of players he needed to pat on the back.

Safety Tevin Carter had his best game as a Ute, highlighted by an interception he returned for 59 yards just before the rain delay. His former Cal teammate Kaelin Clay scored his third special teams touchdown of the year, and is leading the nation with a pair of punt returns for scores.

Although Kendal Thompson's snaps as a starter were overshadowed by a pick-six, he showed resolve by bouncing back with a go-ahead scoring drive right before halftime.

But it's not merely the Utes' new weapons that stood out. On defense, Jared Norris, Nate Orchard and Dominique Hatfield were among the best players on the field. The offense wouldn't have been able to do much without Bubba Poole's tough running at the finish, or Dres Anderson's and Kenneth Scott's combined 10 receptions. Andy Phillips was just a few inches shy of a perfect night on his field goal attempts.

Between breaking Utah's cold streak on interceptions and walloping Michigan receiver Devin Funchess on a pass breakup, Brian Blechen looked positively vintage — in a good way.

Harmony between new acquisitions and the pieces Utah already had: That's what's made the Utes successful so far. And as long as they keep it up, this could be a dangerous group.

"We've got Washington State coming into our place next week, and we want fare well in the Pac-12 as well," Whittingham said. "In the non-conference schedule, we did what we were supposed to do." —

New Utes make sudden impact

LB Gionni Paul • 14 tackles, 1 recovered fumble, 1 interception in Utah debut

S Tevin Carter • Fourth-leading tackler on team, 2.5 TFL, one interception

WR Kaelin Clay • Leading FBS with 2 punt return TDs, No. 7 nationally in return average

RB Devontae Booker • Leading team in rushing yards with 179 in three games —

Washington State at Utah

P Saturday, 6 p.m.

TV • Pac-12 Network