Sitting at the podium while reporters sprinkled him questions, Utah defensive coordinator Morgan Scalley issued a proclamation.
The Utes were less then a month removed from the losses of former defensive tackles Keanu Tanuvasa, who transferred to in-state rival BYU, and Junior Tafuna, who ran out of eligibility and declared for the 2025 NFL Draft. The pair of nose tackles combined for 48 tackles and 7.5 tackles for loss last season.
Instead of dwelling on what was, Scalley was already looking forward.
“My job is to develop the guys that we have in this program,” Scalley said in January, directly addressing the transfer of Tanuvasa. “I’d do a disservice to them by spending much time on guys that aren’t a part of our team anymore. I love our defensive tackles [that we have].”
The Utes have since moved on to new faces in different places.
Sophomore defensive tackle Dallas Vakalahi is already emerging as a playmaker in the trenches for Utah in spring camp. Redshirt senior Aliki Vimahi is taking on a veteran leadership role.
Then there are wildcard defensive tackles like redshirt sophomore Jonah Lea’ea and freshman Karson Kaufusi, who could earn playing time if they seize their opportunities in practice.
But as a group, are they ready to fill the production left behind by Tanuavasa and Tafuna?
Utah defensive tackle Junior Tafuna (58) reacts after a fumble recovery during the first half of an NCAA college football game against Oregon Saturday, Oct. 28, 2023, in Salt Lake City. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Vakalahi certainly thinks so.
“We have a young defensive tackle room, but all of them are really showing great potential,” Vakalhi said last week. “A lot of them are battling for that starting position, and it’s awesome to have that competition in the room.”
For years, the Utes, Scalley and defensive line coach Luther Ellis have used their culture and coaching to develop defensive linemen into NFL prospects. The list includes former players like Leki Fotu, John Penisini, Sam Tevi and more.
Vakalahi and the current batch of defensive tackles hope to add to that lineage in 2025, embracing the same traits, work ethic and mindset instilled in those before them. Vakalahi says he’s already seeing the fruits of his labor in Utah’s spring practices.
“It’s a great blessing and privilege to come play here, [following] all the greats before me,” Vakalahi said. “Especially being coached under Luther Elliss, as well as being able to look up to him for advice, it’s one of the things I want to live up to. [I want to] become one of the greats of this program.
“I love the aspect of being tenacious and persistent. That’s what we do as a defense, it helps us perform, and helps us become brothers as a whole. We all want to win games, and we want to be able to not only hold up the Big 12 Championship trophy but also the national championship trophy.”
While the Utes and Scalley are comfortable with the playmakers they have in the defensive tackle room, they could go searching for another lineman during the spring transfer portal window.
“You never know from practice to practice, you may lose a guy to injury, and so we’re never satisfied,” Scalley said. “You’re always looking to continue to develop. In terms of the numbers, we’re probably down one scholarship player at the defensive tackle spot, so we’ll probably be looking to the portal to fill that need.
“But other than that, like I said, the guys that we have, we feel like we recruited the right guys. Now it’s about developing them and not giving them too much to think about.”
Scalley says that development starts with fixing Utah’s tackling issues from a season ago and gap techniques at the line of scrimmage. Last season, Utah’s rush defense allowed 129.4 yards per game, a drop off from their 2023 number when it allowed an average of 84.6 rush yards per game in the Pac-12.
(Francisco Kjolseth | The Salt Lake Tribune) University of Utah football defensive coordinator and safeties coach Morgan Scalley speaks to the sports media on Tuesday, Jan. 14, 2025.
A lot of its regression started at the defensive tackle position.
“You have to be able to wrap up in this league,” Scalley said. “If you’re throwing a shoulder at guys who are big and strong and have good enough contact balance, they’re going to make you miss. It’s just a matter of tackling the right way.”
Three weeks through the Utes spring camp, there appears to be optimism about Utah’s defensive line.
Yes, they might have young, unproven playmakers. And, yes, replacing Tanuvasa and Tafuna’s leadership will be hard.
But the Utes are relying on the formula that has bred success in the past. That’s something they’re willing to bet on in 2025.
“It draws back on the players that have been here before,” Vakalhi said. “Knowing that it’s always the ‘next man up’ mentality, that’s really what I’m pushing to the younger guys. Anyone can play, it’s all up to you and the physicality that you play within the game of football.”
