Triple strength: Trio of seniors has helped solidify linebacker position for Ute defense

Despite losing six starters off last year's defense, including two-time Mountain West Conference player of the year Eric Weddle, the Utah defense should be just fine this year, thanks to the return of three senior linebackers who started the majority of the time last year.

Joe Jiannoni, Kyle Brady and Malakai Mokofisi have all been in the Ute program for five years and are ready to lead a defense that has been maligned by some for its lack of experience.

Ute coach Kyle Whittingham is thrilled to have such experience at the linebacker position.

"They're all fifth-year seniors and are very experienced," he said. "They know the ropes, they know the defense inside and out, what's expected and what it takes to be a leader."

Whittingham always says he wants to put his best 11 players on the field, and the same goes for the linebacker positions, where the Utes "put the three best guys on the field."

To do that, it necessitated moving Brady to the rover linebacker position manned by Casey Evans and JJ Williams most of last year. In 2006, Brady and Mokofisi split time at the stud linebacker spot, where Mokofisi will get most of the reps this year.

Jiannoni stays in the middle "MAC" position.

Defensive coordinator Gary Andersen is happy to have so much experience in the middle, considering he's working with three new starters on the defensive line and two in the secondary.

"Senior leadership is invaluable," Andersen said. "They're very good players. They're vital with the experience they bring, especially with a young defense at the corner position and at the defensive line position. It's so key for them to get those kids lined up and to give them confidence."

Andersen said each of the three brings a separate dimension to the defense.

"Joe calls the defense and is the ultimate competitor," he said. "He works as hard in January as the last game in November. He's a physical tackler with very good speed.

"Kyle is not the strongest guy in the world, but he's very athletic, runs extremely well and can cover people.

"Malakai is a self-made tough guy who came in as a walk-on and had to develop himself into a football player. He's kind of that blue-collar tough guy."

Jiannoni was recruited out of La Quinta, Calif., by several Pac-10 schools until he broke his shoulder his senior year. He's the kind of guy who dislikes attention, but he knows he needs to be a leader this year.