The Utes completed the regular season with a 6–3 record in conference play, winning the South Division for the first time since joining the Pac-12 Conference in 2011. In the Pac-12 Championship Game, the team lost to North Division champion Washington by a score of 10–3. They were invited to the Holiday Bowl to play Big Ten Conference runner-up Northwestern, where the Utes lost by a score of 31–20 to end the year at 9–5 overall.
Utah was led on offense by quarterback Tyler Huntley until he suffered a season-ending collarbone fracture in the game against Arizona State on November 3. Redshirt freshman Jason Shelley started for the rest of the season. Running back Zack Moss compiled 1,096 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns. Two members of the Utah offensive line earned first-team all-conference honors, Jordan Agasiva and Jackson Barton. Utah's defense featured four members of the first-team All-Pac-12: defensive linemen Bradlee Anae and Leki Fotu, linebacker Chase Hansen, and cornerback Jaylon Johnson. Hansen led the conference in tackles for loss with 22, and Anae tied for the conference lead in sacks with 8.
The Utes signed a total of 20 recruits.
College recruiting information (2018)
Hunter Lotulelei OG
Salt Lake City, Utah
Highland High School
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
213 lb (97 kg)
Jun 17, 2016
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jack Tuttle QB
San Marcos, California
Mission Hills High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
195 lb (88 kg)
Dec 16, 2016
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Malone Mataele DB
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Santa Margarita Catholic High School
5 ft 11 in (1.80 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Apr 21, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tevita Fotu TE
Herriman, Utah
Herriman High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
250 lb (110 kg)
Oct 8, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Terrell Perriman WR
Miami, Florida
Miami Central High School
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
176 lb (80 kg)
Nov 3, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Braeden Daniels OL
Carrollton, Texas
Hebron High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
260 lb (120 kg)
Dec 17, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jeremiah Jordan DE
Stone Mountain, Georgia
Mt. San Jacinto College
6 ft 6 in (1.98 m)
250 lb (110 kg)
Dec 17, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Bryant Pirtle LB
Louisville, Kentucky
Pima Community College
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
235 lb (107 kg)
Dec 20, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Paul Maile DT
Salt Lake City, Utah
East High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
250 lb (110 kg)
Dec 23, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Andrew Mataafa LB
San Diego, California
San Diego High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
205 lb (93 kg)
Dec 29, 2017
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Vonte Davis CB
Rosenberg, Texas
Blinn College
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
180 lb (82 kg)
Jan 14, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Blake Kuithe DE
Katy, Texas
Cinco Ranch High School
6 ft 2 in (1.88 m)
230 lb (100 kg)
Jan 14, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Brant Kuithe WR
Katy, Texas
Cinco Ranch High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
212 lb (96 kg)
Jan 14, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Jackson Cravens DT
Provo, Utah
Timpview High School
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
285 lb (129 kg)
Feb 3, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Thomas Yassmin TE
New South Wales, Australia
The Scots College
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
230 lb (100 kg)
Feb 6, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Devin Brumfield RB
Covington, Louisiana
Covington High School
5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)
219 lb (99 kg)
Feb 7, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Solomon Enis WR
Phoenix, Arizona
North Canyon High School
6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)
190 lb (86 kg)
Feb 7, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Simi Moala DE
Hawthorne, California
Cathedral High School
6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
250 lb (110 kg)
Feb 7, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Mika Tafua DE
Maui, Hawaii
Kamehameha Schools
6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
210 lb (95 kg)
Feb 7, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Tareke Lewis CB
Palatka, Florida
Riverside City College
6 ft 1 in (1.85 m)
170 lb (77 kg)
Feb 7, 2018
Recruit ratings: Scout: Rivals: 247Sports: ESPN:
Overall recruit ranking:
Note: In many cases, Scout, Rivals, 247Sports, On3, and ESPN may conflict in their listings of height and weight.
In these cases, the average was taken. ESPN grades are on a 100-point scale.
Sources:
"2018 Team Ranking". Rivals.com. | | | | | |
Listed in the order that they were released
Award
Player
Position
Year
Lott Trophy
Chase Hansen
LB
SR
Rimington Trophy
Lo Falemaka
C
SR
Chuck Bednarik Award
Julian Blackmon
CB
JR
Bradlee Anae
DE
JR
Maxwell Award
Zack Moss
RB
JR
Doak Walker Award
Zack Moss
RB
JR
Bronko Nagurski Trophy
Julian Blackmon
CB
JR
Outland Trophy
Lo Falemaka
C
SR
Lou Groza Award
Matt Gay
K
SR
Ray Guy Award
Mitch Wishnowsky
P
SR
Wuerffel Trophy
Chase Hansen
DB
SR
Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award
Tyler Huntley
QB
JR
The 2018 Pac-12 media days were set for July 25, 2018 in Hollywood, California. Kyle Whittingham (HC), Chase Hanson (LB) & Lo Falemaka (OL) at Pac-12 Media Days. The Pac-12 media poll was released with the Utes predicted to finish in second place at Pac-12 South division.
Utah announced their 2018 football schedule on November 16, 2017. The Utes will play FCSWeber State and Northern Illinois and returning to the traditional last game of the year spot, Utah will play in-state rival BYU Cougars football in out-of-conference play. In Pac-12 conference play, the Utes will not play cross-divisional foes California and Oregon State.
Rice–Eccles StadiumSalt Lake City, UT (Holy War/Beehive Boot)
FS1
W 35–27
46,017
November 30
6:00 p.m.
vs. No. 11 Washington
No. 17
Levi's StadiumSanta Clara, CA (Pac-12 Championship Game)
FOX
L 3–10
35,134
December 31
5:00 p.m.
vs. No. 22 Northwestern*
No. 17
SDCCU StadiumSan Diego, CA (Holiday Bowl)
FS1
L 20–31
47,007
*Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll and CFP Rankings after October 30 released prior to gameAll times are in Mountain time
Source:
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 8 (FCS) Wildcats
10
0
0
0
10
Utes
7
10
14
10
41
1
2
3
4
Total
Utes
0
0
7
10
17
Huskies
3
0
0
3
6
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 10 Huskies
7
7
7
0
21
Utes
7
0
0
0
7
1
2
3
4
Total
Utes
14
7
3
0
24
Cougars
7
14
0
7
28
1
2
3
4
Total
Utes
7
17
3
13
40
No. 14 Cardinal
0
7
14
0
21
1
2
3
4
Total
Wildcats
0
0
3
7
10
Utes
14
14
7
7
42
1
2
3
4
Total
Trojans
14
0
0
14
28
Utes
7
13
14
7
41
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 23 Utes
3
14
21
3
41
Bruins
7
0
3
0
10
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 16 Utes
7
10
3
0
20
Sun Devils
14
7
0
17
38
1
2
3
4
Total
Ducks
0
7
10
8
25
Utes
10
9
3
10
32
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 21 Utes
0
7
17
6
30
Buffaloes
7
0
0
0
7
1
2
3
4
Total
Cougars
13
7
7
0
27
No. 18 Utes
0
0
14
21
35
The Utes scored 28 unanswered points and overcame a 27–7 deficit in the third quarter to defeat their in-state rival, the BYU Cougars, for the eighth consecutive time.
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 17 Utes
0
0
3
0
3
No. 10 Huskies
0
3
7
0
10
1
2
3
4
Total
No. 20 Utes
14
6
0
0
20
Wildcats
0
3
28
0
31
The Utes had five players drafted in the 2019 NFL draft.
Round
Pick
Player
Position
NFL Club
2
47
Marquise Blair
S
Seattle Seahawks
3
88
Cody Barton
LB
Seattle Seahawks
4
110
Mitch Wishnowsky
P
San Francisco 49ers
5
145
Matt Gay
K
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
7
240
Jackson Barton
OT
Indianapolis Colts
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