Utah fooball: Four Utes named as best in nation with their jersey number

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Oregon Ducks linebacker Tyson Coleman (33) watches as Ute running back Devontae Booker (23) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) celebrates his 3rd quarter touchdown, giving Utah a 24-14 lead over UCLA, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Saturday, October 4, 2014

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) runs for a third-quarter touchdown in Pac-12 action, Utah vs. USC, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, October 25, 2014.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Andy Phillips celebrates a field goal at the Utah Football Red & White game in Salt Lake City, Saturday April 25, 2015.

Jeremy Harmon | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah's Jared Norris (41) just misses a tackle on Michigan's Derrick Green (27) as the Utes face the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utah Utes linebacker Jared Norris (41) brigs down Washington State Cougars running back Jamal Morrow (25), in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Washington State, at RIce-Eccles Stadium, September 27, 2014

Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune
Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) passes under pressure from Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) during the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday November 22, 2014.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) sacks of Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Brian Burrell (2) as Utah hosts Fresno State, college football at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday September 6, 2014.

Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune
Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) celebrates his second sack of Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Brian Burrell (2) as Utah hosts Fresno State, college football at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday September 6, 2014.

Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune

Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) sacks Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8), in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

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Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Oregon Ducks linebacker Tyson Coleman (33) watches as Ute running back Devontae Booker (23) runs the ball into the end zone for a touchdown, in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) celebrates his 3rd quarter touchdown, giving Utah a 24-14 lead over UCLA, at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Saturday, October 4, 2014 Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes running back Devontae Booker (23) runs for a third-quarter touchdown in Pac-12 action, Utah vs. USC, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, October 25, 2014. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Andy Phillips celebrates a field goal at the Utah Football Red & White game in Salt Lake City, Saturday April 25, 2015. Jeremy Harmon | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah's Jared Norris (41) just misses a tackle on Michigan's Derrick Green (27) as the Utes face the Wolverines in Ann Arbor, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes linebacker Jared Norris (41) brigs down Washington State Cougars running back Jamal Morrow (25), in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Washington State, at RIce-Eccles Stadium, September 27, 2014 Chris Detrick | The Salt Lake Tribune Arizona Wildcats quarterback Anu Solomon (12) passes under pressure from Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) during the game at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday November 22, 2014. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) sacks of Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Brian Burrell (2) as Utah hosts Fresno State, college football at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday September 6, 2014. Trent Nelson | The Salt Lake Tribune Utah Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) celebrates his second sack of Fresno State Bulldogs quarterback Brian Burrell (2) as Utah hosts Fresno State, college football at Rice-Eccles Stadium Saturday September 6, 2014. Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune Utes defensive end Hunter Dimick (49) sacks Oregon Ducks quarterback Marcus Mariota (8), in Pac-12 football action, Utah vs. Oregon game, at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Saturday, November 8, 2014

By Brennan Smith The Salt Lake Tribune

· June 4, 2015 3:57 pm

This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2015, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

College athletes pick numbers for different reasons, be it superstition, a nod to a pee wee or high school jersey or to honor their favorite professional athlete.

However, making that number famous as the best player in the nation donning that jersey is a tougher matter.

Four Utah football players were honored by ESPN Thursday for being the best with their number in the nation based on a list of No. 1-99.

Devontae Booker (No. 23), Andy Phillips (No. 39), Jared Norris (No. 41) and Hunter Dimick (No. 49) were all chosen to represent the stitching on the backs of their jerseys.

The Utes had the sixth most players honored on the list, the top Pac-12 team, followed by UCLA and USC (three each), Colorado and Oregon (two), and Arizona State, Arizona, Oregon State, Stanford (one each).

bsmith@sltrib.com

Twitter: @BrennanJSmith