Luther Elliss Is Beyond Excited To Be Coaching At His Alma Mater
Jan 25, 2022, 9:44 AM
4 Oct 1998: Defensive tackle Luther Elliss #94 of the Detroit Lions looks on during a game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field in Chicago, Illinois. The Bears defeated the Lions 31-27.
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The University of Utah decided to go with a familiar face for its next defensive tackles coach. They brought in Luther Elliss who had been coaching the defensive line for five years at Idaho.
This past season, Elliss’ defensive line was 16th in the FCS in sacks per game, and two Vandal defensive linemen earned All-Big Sky honors which included Charles Akanno and Noah Elliss.
Elliss had an exceptional career at Utah which included being the WAC player of the year, an All-American and then became a first-round NFL Draft pick by the Detroit Lions. He then earned a pair of Pro Bowl selections.
BREAKING: @Utah_Football has hired All-American Luther Elliss as the defensive tackles coach.#GoUtes https://t.co/9eEHt99b0g
— KSL Sports (@kslsports) January 20, 2022
The new coach joined Unrivaled and over and over said how happy and excited he is to be back in Salt Lake City and coaching his former college team
“This is like a dream job. It’s a great opportunity to just be a part of something special and it has been special for a while,” Elliss said. “Coach Whit and the staff and the players and just everyone here, Ute nation has done an awesome job and just making us who we are and just to be a part of that, to be a part of it in a different way this time, but to still be a part of the family and to do this, it was just huge blessing. I’m so excited.”
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Elliss has a lot to be excited about and a lot he can teach a defense that is not only near the top of the Pac-12 but one of the most respected defenses in the country. The Utes have had a defender taken in the NFL Draft every year dating back to 2013. Elliss will have big shoes to fill to help his unit keep pace and have players continue to be drafted at high levels.
He is up for the challenge. Elliss’ attitude is one of joy and determination to succeed.
“It’s just a dream come true … with a Pac-12 Championship last year, the Rose Bowl,” Elliss added. “It’s a great team meaning they’re young and they’re hungry and there are greater opportunities before us and to be able to have an opportunity to be a part of that is something that could be truly special and it’s going to be special.”
Elliss is pumped and mentioned he is on “cloud nine” by getting this job to coach with the program that helped him become one of the best ever at Utah. His goal is to do the same with the group of young men he will get to coach at the defensive tackle position.
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