Utah Utes football: Kruger family pipeline still pumping talent into Utah football program

SALT LAKE CITY — Brothers Dave and Joe Kruger give the Utah Utes a combined 13 feet of height and 550 pounds on the defensive line. The younger siblings of former Utah star Paul Kruger, now with the NFL's Baltimore Ravens, are expected to make sizeable contributions this fall.

Dave (6-5, 290), a sophomore nose tackle, and Joe (6-7, 260), a freshman defensive end, entered camp high on the depth chart and through three days of practice are solidifying spots in the rotation.

"Absolutely," said Utah coach Kyle Whittingham. "They will play."

Barring anything unforeseen, that's the plan.

It's a proven pipeline.

"The Krugers have been a big part of Utah football for the past several years," Whittingham said. "...They have been an instrumental part of our success."

And how.

Paul Kruger was an all-conference defensive end on the Utes' undefeated Sugar Bowl championship team. He opted to turn pro that spring and was selected by Baltimore in the second round of the NFL Draft.

Dave Kruger was a redshirt during Paul's final year at Utah and began his collegiate career in 2009, earning Freshman All-America honors.

Joe Kruger is the latest addition from the family. He's a true freshman, months removed from an all-state campaign at Pleasant Grove High School.

The fact that Utah nearly had all three brothers in the program at the same time is something Whittingham has thought about.

"I tried to talk Paul into that," he noted with a laugh. "I said 'Just think if you wait a couple of years, there could be three.' He thought for a minute and said, 'Yeah, you're right. Well, I've got to go.' "

It's a topic the brothers have discussed often over the years.

"We always talk about that and how cool that would be," Dave Kruger said.

Paul Kruger, however, had an opportunity too good to pass up.

"The three Kruger brothers on the D-line," Joe said. "It would have been super fun, but too bad it didn't happen."

What is happening, though, is that two of them are poised to play together for the Utes this season.