Hansen, Mangum, Tarver Headline Beehive State Stars In Postseason Games
Jan 7, 2019, 4:15 PM
(Steve Griffin, Deseret News)
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – For many of the senior college football players in the Beehive State, their careers are over. For several of them, they’ll be suiting up one last time in a postseason all-star game.
Here’s a look at who will be playing where in a senior class all-star game.
Tropical Bowl, January 14
Tanner Mangum, QB, BYU
Mangum had an up-and-down senior season at BYU. He quarterbacked the Cougars to a big win over then No. 6 ranked Wisconsin on the road, but was later benched in favor of freshman Zach Wilson. Still, he maintained a good attitude that earned him a lot of favor with BYU fans.
Tanner Mangum has been invited to play in the SPIRAL Tropical Bowl FBS All-American game on Jan. 13.
The fourth annual all-star game will be played at Daytona Stadium in Daytona Beach, Florida, at 10am EST.#BYUFOOTBALL #GoCougs pic.twitter.com/JHDLuYEnvZ
— BYU FOOTBALL (@BYUfootball) January 7, 2019
East-West Shrine Game, January 19
Jackson Barton, OL, Utah
Barton had a stellar season on Utah’s offensive line. He earned first-team All-Pac-12 honors.
Jackson Barton of The University of Utah has accepted the invitation to play in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. #shrinegame @Utah_Football @u0893535 pic.twitter.com/nhYgoCdp1V
— Shrine Game (@Shrine_Game) November 29, 2018
Cody Barton, LB, Utah
Jackson’s brother, Cody, also had a strong season for the Utes. An honorable mention on the All-Pac-12 team, he and Chase Hansen formed a dominant 1-2 punch at linebacker for the Utes. Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham called Barton and Hansen the best duo at linebacker that has ever come through the Utah football program.
Cody Barton of The University of Utah has accepted the invitation to play in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. #shrinegame @Utah_Football pic.twitter.com/uFSmj44nwR
— Shrine Game (@Shrine_Game) November 29, 2018
Matt Gay, K, Utah
Gay had a fantastic season at kicker for Utah. He was named to the first-team All-Pac-12 team for the second straight year. In 2017, he was honored as the Lou Groza Award winner as the nation’s best kicker.
Matt Gay of The University of Utah has accepted the invitation to play in the 2019 East-West Shrine Game. #shrinegame @UUtah pic.twitter.com/tvSMYomWpE
— Shrine Game (@Shrine_Game) December 21, 2018
Ron’quavion Tarver, WR, Utah State
Tarver earned honorable mention All-Mountain West honors in 2018. He was one of quarterback Jordan Love’s top targets with eight touchdown catches and 66 receptions for a Utah State squad that went 11-2.
Utah State Wide Receiver Ron’quavion Tarver Invited To Play In East-West Shrine Game#AggiesAllTheWay
Release: https://t.co/tPUDsOXr1w pic.twitter.com/j43yiTGyCb
— USU Football (@USUFootball) January 7, 2019
Reese’s Senior Bowl, January 26
Marquise Blair, S, Utah
Blair was the heavy-hitting enforcing safety on Utah’s tough defense in 2019. He was honored as a second-team All-Pac-12 selection after a season that included 59 tackles, two interceptions and a forced fumble.
Safety Marquise Blair @Legit_king1 from @Utah_Football has officially accepted his invitation to the 70th Reese’s Senior Bowl! #SeniorBowl #CompeteAndConnect #NFLTraditionInMobile pic.twitter.com/rRzCKgEDSJ
— Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) November 21, 2018
Chase Hansen, LB, Utah
Hansen was honored as a first-team All-Pac-12 selection after leading the Utes in tackles with 114, including 22 for a loss. He also had two interceptions, one for a touchdown in a monster senior season in a career that included playing at quarterback, safety and linebacker for the Utes.
LB Chase Hansen from @Utah_Football has officially accepted his invitation to the 70th Reese’s Senior Bowl! #SeniorBowl #CompeteAndConnect #NFLTraditionInMobile pic.twitter.com/jvqyO9vyP9
— Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) November 26, 2018
Mitch Wishnowsky, P, Utah
Wishnowsky was named to his third-straight All-Pac-12 first team in 2018. He won the Ray Guy Award as the nation’s top punter in 2016 as the Utes became the first team in the history of both awards to feature a Ray Guy Award winner and a Lou Groza Award winner in kicker Matt Gay on the same team.
Punter Mitch Wishnowsky @mitchwish from @Utah_Football has officially accepted his invitation to the 70th Reese’s Senior Bowl! #SeniorBowl #CompeteAndConnect #NFLTraditionInMobile pic.twitter.com/N8NQvqUW2y
— Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) December 5, 2018
Dax Raymond, TE, Utah State
Raymond earned honorable mention All-Mountain West Conference honors despite missing four games in 2018. He hauled in 25 passes for 335 and two touchdowns in 2018.
TE @dax_raymond from @USUFootball has officially accepted his invitation to the 70th Reese’s Senior Bowl! #SeniorBowl #CompeteAndConnect #NFLTraditionInMobile pic.twitter.com/3NthOwttfL
— Reese’s Senior Bowl (@seniorbowl) December 5, 2018