Utah Utes football: Linebacker U. Team has a squad full of unknown defensive talent
Quick, name the three starting Ute linebackers. How about any of the backups?
Let's see, there's that guy with the backwards name, the guy who hits real hard and the local kid who walked on the team.
That would be Stevenson Sylvester, Nai Fotu and Mike Wright. They have earned the three starting spots, with players such as Kepa Gaison, Mo Neal, Chaz Walker and Matt Martinez chasing them, not that far behind and pushing the starters every day. None are seniors, and only Sylvester has significant collegiate playing experience.
Even though it's an inexperienced bunch, the Ute coaches don't seem to be wringing their hands over the lack of experience in the middle of the Ute defense.
"They are a very athletic group and have done a good job through fall camp," said Ute coach Kyle Whittingham. "They've got good size, are fast and there's a lot of competition. You'll see more than three play."
Linebackers coach Kalani Sitake is happy with the progress of the linebacking corps and is looking forward to see how they'll perform Saturday at Michigan.
"I'm more anxious than anything," he said. "I'm not nervous. I know they'll be ready."
The only returning starter is Sylvester, who earned his starting rover linebacker spot by default when Kyle Brady was lost for the season with a torn Achilles in the sixth game last year against Louisville. But he made the most of his opportunity and finished the season as the Utes' second-leading tackler behind safety Steve Tate with 86, including 45 solos. He also had three sacks and five pass breakups.
Sylvester not only has an unorthodox name he says the majority of the time he gets called Sylvester Stevenson he's an unorthodox player.
"He's like the boxer or batter who has a weird stance but still gets things done," said Sitake. "He's smaller than guys like (former Ute star) Spencer Toone and Kyle Brady, but he makes up for it by being surprisingly strong with great technique. He's a good leader as shown by being named captain as a junior."
Fotu, a sophomore from Hawaii, is the stud or strong-side starter. He didn't play a lot last year, but fans remember him because he was hard to miss when he did play because of his crunching hits.
"Nai is the most physical out of the bunch," said Sitake. "I think he'll be one of the most exciting players on the defense. We're excited to see what he can do on the field now that he's a full-time starter. He's an emotional player, who loves to hit. He's a dangerous player the way he moves. ... He's active and has good instincts. You'll see how special he is on Saturday."
Recent comments
Watched the hit on Ronnie Jenkins. Nice hit. You yutes are used to...
re: "zoobies" 9:07 | Aug. 30, 2008 at 1:20 p.m.
why in the world would you want bronco leading you into Ann Arbor, i...
kyle for sure | Aug. 29, 2008 at 1:31 p.m.
That title goes to BYU. End of subject. Try something else to write...
In this state... | Aug. 28, 2008 at 10:18 p.m.
- 'Hope' poster artist guilty of vandalism 9:51 p.m.
- Report disputes wiretapping 9:51 p.m.
- Tax rich for health care, Demos say 9:50 p.m.
- Parks nominee is in hot water 9:30 p.m.
- Burris bows out of 2010 race 9:30 p.m.
- Regulators close Wyoming bank 9:17 p.m.
- Bailout $ may aid small business 9:16 p.m.
- Facebook sued on control of content 9:15 p.m.
- Poor more likely to leave California 9:13 p.m.
- Montana guv blasts GM 9:11 p.m.
- LDS seminary principal arrested
- Jazz talking Boozer trade?
- Reactions on Boozer speculation
- Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
- Jazz in back of line for free agents
- Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
- A primer for the 6th Potter film
- Okur signs two-year extension
- Jazz won't meet Lopez on Europe trip
- Restaurant destroyed by fire
- Letters: Palin mistreated
142 - Bronco collecting a galaxy of recruits
141 - Teachers struggle with district cuts
138 - Jazz talking Boozer trade?
136 - LDS seminary principal arrested
133 - Blazers may offer Millsap a contract
123 - Stadium of Fire flag burning was fake
94 - Fairness of BCS debated
81 - Chaffetz eyes challenging Bennett
74 - Blazers offer Millsap 4-year deal
73
Here's BYU's press release on Jonathan Tavernari's big game for the...
Two California high school receivers have given the University of Utah
For those of you that favor immigration, there are six and a half billion...
"U of U Student | 11:24 a.m. July 10, 2009 How about this current modern...
This was a very accurate article. We ought to know. Credit was fairly given...
It's NOT about what the people want, it's about what makes the media money.
The whole business of retiring a flag by burning it is superstitiousness at...
Wow, does this seem like 'deja vu' when the Jazz pulled the same thing to get...
People living OUTSIDE of the US have NO protection of the constitution, ...
is dollar for dollar.
Everybody keeps saying Millsap is or isn't worth 8 to 9 million dollars a...
Not to worry, before the hammer falls on CA the federal government will bail...



