Utah football bringing two of its best receiving targets back next season

No matter what sort of roster turnover the University of Utah has next season, it will return two of its top pass-catching options.

Brant Kuithe, a fifth-year senior tight end who was lost for the season on Sept. 24 due to a torn right ACL, announced on Monday that he will return for a sixth season in 2023.

Wide receiver Devaughn Vele will follow Kuithe’s lead, the program also announced Monday. A fourth-year sophomore wide receiver in 2022, Vele at one point late in the regular season indicated he was leaning towards leaving, but later did a 180-degree turn to indicate he was leaning towards staying. Vele led all Utes wide receivers last season in catches (55), yards (695) and touchdowns (5).

Kuithe has not used a redshirt during his career, but is able to now as he only played in four games. NCAA rules state that a player can play in up to four games and still maintain the year of eligibility.

At the time of his injury, Kuithe, a three-time All-Pac-12 selection, led Utah in receptions (19), receiving yards (206) and receiving touchdowns (3). In 51 career games, the Katy, Texas native has 148 catches for 1,882 yards and 16 touchdowns.

“I think the biggest thing in making a decision like this is making it your own,” Kuithe said on Dec. 31 at Rose Bowl media day in Pasadena. “Don’t base it on other people’s because it’s your life, you can’t base it on other people’s futures and what they want to do with their life. Everyone has different things going on, so you put some consideration on what other guys are doing, but then make the decision based on your future and what you need in your life.”

Kuithe talking about other people’s futures is in reference to the fact that multiple teammates are also mulling NFL Draft decisions. Kuithe’s announcement on Monday morning came roughly 12 hours after fellow-tight end Thomas Yassmin announced on social media that he, too, would be returning in 2023 as a sixth-year senior. Yassmin, a native Australian who had never played American football before arriving in Salt Lake City in 2018, enjoyed a breakout season with 13 catches for 301 yards and six touchdowns.

Kuithe and Yassmin both returning all but guarantees the Utes will continue to employ “12″ personnel, meaning one running back and two tight ends, which they have used with great success over the last few seasons. Among the NFL Draft decisions, not to mention injury statuses, still out there, who will actually throw to Kuithe and Yassmin is a topic of great interest.

Fifth-year junior quarterback Cam Rising also announced on Monday that he will return in 2023, but he was injured midway through the third quarter of the Rose Bowl, with head coach Kyle Whittingham indicating afterward that the injury appeared serious. With the severity of the injury not publicly known, attention will now shift to Rising’s availability for spring practice and the start of fall camp in August.