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Siaosi Aiono is described by Utah's sports information staff as an all-conference candidate, by right tackle J.J. Dielman as a "wizard."

The senior center is one of, if not foremost among, Utah's vocal leaders, seen rallying the troops in the locker room on Pac-12 Networks' "The Drive."

He's also made few noticeable mistakes at a position where mistakes tend to be noticeable.

But after Tuesday's practice, it was an ordeal for him just to grasp his shoulder pads, his injured right hand cast in cast.

Utah has succeeded without Aiono for two straight weeks, but he may return to snap left-handed in Tucson.

"That's the plan," he said.

His backup, junior Hiva Lutui, is no stranger to game action. Lutui played in four games last season, and before Aiono's injury, he had rotated with fellow Trinity High alum Salesi Uhatafe at right guard, receiving almost 200 snaps.

Data provided to The Tribune by Pro Football Focus indicates Lutui has yet to allow a sack in 357 snaps this season, though the PFF analysts fault him for four quarterback hurries in two weeks at center, and he sent one snap into a motioning receiver against Oregon State.

"I feel like I've done all right," Lutui said. "... We've been winning, so I can't ask for anything more."

Aiono had allowed one sack and 10 quarterback hurries in 505 snaps, though PFF gives him a lower grade in the run game (minus-7.8, with 0.0 as the adjusted norm) than Lutui (minus-2.1).

Utah coaches have repeatedly emphasized the importance of winning the turnover battle, making an off-handed snapper sound like a dicey proposition.

But Aiono said it's "a lot easier than it sounds." He's repeated the action in practice for two weeks now, he said, and "It's been going pretty good."

Fitts' mitts

It's fast becoming Kylie Fitts' regular order: a sack, a forced fumble and a pass breakup.

Fitts — who has started since Week 3 after sitting out last season due to his transfer from UCLA — has accomplished the feat against Fresno State, Cal and Washington. With little fanfare, he leads the Utes in forced fumbles (three) and is second in pass breakups (six) and sacks (4.5).

Last Saturday, Fitts got two-thirds of his preferred diet when he ingested Husky quarterback Jake Browning and spit the ball out to junior Stevie Tu'ikolovatu, Utah leading at the time by one score in the fourth quarter.

"When I came around [my blocker], I was just looking for that ball first," he said.

As for the regularity of his breakups, "It's kind of like instincts, almost," he said.

Echoed linebackers coach Justin Ena: "Some guys are better than others. You can rep that over and over and over again, but some guys just have the feeling to get their hands up at that right time and knock the passes down."

Singleton's role increases

He may be a redshirt freshman, but that's been little consolation to wideout Raelon Singleton.

"I felt like I was never going to play," said the 6-foot-3 Crosby, Texas, native, who missed last season with a shoulder injury and was frequently cited as a spring "standout" by Kyle Whittingham before injuring his hamstring before the start of fall camp.

"I tried to come back and I kept on re-injuring it, I think three or four times," he said. "I think I was just rushing the process."

He has now played in six straight games, appearing on the depth chart this week as co-starter with freshman Tyrone Smith.

After totaling 17 snaps to Smith's 26 against Oregon State, Singleton had 41 to Smith's 16 in Seattle.

Both have been often-played, rarely targeted. Singleton went without a catch in Washington and has totaled six catches for 49 yards, while Smith has made 14 grabs for 150 yards.

Singleton said he knows Utah is losing its top two receivers next year — senior Kenneth Scott (450 yards, four touchdowns) and freshman LDS missionary Britain Covey (385 yards, two scores) — and is trying to soak up what he can.

Don't worry, he said. "Next year, it's going to be me, Tim [Patrick], George [Siaosi Wilson], [Smith], and everything's going to be good."

Rankings

Utah moved up two spots to No. 10 in the latest College Football Playoff rankings, released Tuesday night. Since appearing at No. 17 in the first-ever rankings last season, Utah has never been unranked by the CFP Committee.

Stanford, a potential Pac-12 Championship Game opponent, moved up four spots to No. 7, while Nov. 21 foe UCLA moved up four spots to No. 19. Michigan, at No. 14, is the only other ranked Utah opponent.

mpiper@sltrib.com

Twitter: @matthew_piper

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No. 10 Utah at Arizona

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