Utah Utes football: No Mohawk for Ute linebacker

If all goes as planned, a Utah football tradition will fall by the wayside this fall.

Blame it on Mike Wright.

The junior, who currently resides atop the depth chart at middle linebacker, has no intentions of getting a Mohawk haircut — something the Utes' starter at that position has done for years.

"That would be a little bit out of his character," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham.

Wright, a former Bountiful High star and returned LDS Church missionary, isn't a "Mohawk" kind of guy.

"I understand I don't fit the middle linebacker persona," Wright said. "But I try to make my play be what sets me apart as a linebacker and not my look — no. No Mohawk."

Wright's leadership comes quietly.

"He's done a nice job being a leader. He's more of a guy who leads by example rather than being vocal," Whittingham said. "He doesn't say a lot. His work ethic is very good."

Wright is the man in the middle of a young linebacking corps that lost fifth-year seniors Joe Jiannoni, Kyle Brady and Malakai Mokofisi to graduation. Wright and fellow junior Stevenson Sylvester are the new team leaders at linebacker. They spend a lot of time watching film together and assisting the younger players.

It's a big change from a year ago when Jiannoni, Brady and Mokofisi ruled the roost.

"The first day of spring ball was a lot different not having those guys there. They're our buddies and we miss them," said Wright, who added that the coaching staff has put him in a pivotal position this spring. "They have kind of identified me as a leader and said that's my position to keep. I've got to keep coming every day in practice. They've reminded me of that. We have a lot of talented younger linebackers in our crew."

So many, in fact, that he's taking nothing for granted.

"There's a lot of guys who can beat me out," he explained. "So I've got to come to practice every day ready to go."

Nai Fotu, Matt Martinez and Jamel King are sophomores to watch, while Mo Neal and Chaz Walker are promising redshirt freshmen. Junior Kepa Gaison is also in the mix.

Whittingham is quick to point out that nothing is set in stone, yet, and that the competition is evaluated every day.

As the upperclassmen, Whittingham said Wright and the other juniors have got to step to the forefront.