Utah Utes football: Team stacked with experience at LB position

There's strength in numbers at linebacker for the University of Utah.

"That might be the deepest position on the team with the three starting seniors that we have coming back," said head coach Kyle Whittingham. "We have a lot of depth at that position."

In addition to starters Stevenson Sylvester, Mike Wright and Kepa Gaison, there's a talented group of reserves featuring J.J. Williams, Chaz Walker, Matt Martinez, Boo Andersen, Mo Neal, Jamel King and converted quarterback Chad Manis.

"I think we've got some depth," said defensive coordinator Kalani Sitake. "It gives us a lot more room to breathe and decide where we can put some guys."

Flexibility is enhanced with the starters able to play any of the linebacker spots — rover, middle and stud.

"I think we are going to hit the ground running as far as the linebacking corps. We have a lot of experience," Wright said. "Coming off that Sugar Bowl win, we know what it takes to come in — day in and day out — to go undefeated."

Sylvester, Wright and Gaison combined for a whopping 183 tackles last season, including 20 in Utah's 31-17 Sugar Bowl victory over Alabama. "Hopefully we can live up to that this season," Wright said.

And there's no reason to think they won't. The center of Utah's defense has a blend of contributors.

"We have 10 or 11 people in our meeting room and only one really new person to the program," said Sylvester, who noted that a majority of the linebackers are underclassmen. "We've got depth, experience, and we're young and athletic. We're good to go."

After the first day of camp, Sylvester predicted bright things for the upcoming season.

"We've still got some kinks we've got to work out before Sept. 3," he said. "But I feel like we're going to be ready."

Wright agrees.

"We've got some good leadership at our position and good younger guys coming up," he explained. "So we've got a lot of potential this year and we're going to work hard in camp to get ourselves ready for this season."

As a show of unity, Utah's linebackers have opted for blond hairdos in camp. Some, including Sylvester, are sporting mohawk cuts.

"It was something fun to do," Wright said.

The group, as a whole, is determined to let the good times roll.